Men's Soccer 11/13/08 -- NCAA Division III National Playoff First Round -- Augsburg (Minn.) 1, Whitworth (Wash.) 1 (2OT); Augsburg advances 4-2 in penalty-kick shootout!
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SPOKANE, Wash. (11/13/08) -- Goalkeeper Pascaul Venter (JR, Rochester, Minn./John Marshall HS) claimed a key save on a penalty-kick shootout, as the Augsburg College men's soccer team advanced in the NCAA Division III national playoffs on Thursday afternoon with a 4-2, penalty-kick decision over host Whitworth University (Wash.).
The teams played to a 1-1 tie after two overtimes, which is how the game is officially recorded. Augsburg (11-3-7 overall), in its first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III national tournament, will advance to play Redlands (Calif., 16-4-2) in the second round on Sunday (11/16) at 1 p.m. (Pacific time, 3 p.m. Twin Cities time) in Redlands, Calif. Whitworth, in its fifth NCAA tournament since 2001, finishes its season 14-2-4.
For the second straight postseason game, Augsburg went to a penalty kick shootout. But unlike the MIAC championship game on Saturday against Carleton (a 5-3 shootout decision for the Knights), the Auggies were able to advance with the shootout triumph. After the teams exchanged goals -- Cameron Bushey for Whitworth, Simon Rekkebo (FY, Trondheim, Norway) for Augsburg -- in the first round of the best-of-five format, Whitworth's John Prugh missed the goal on his attempt.
Augsburg's Alex Hildebrandt (JR, St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park HS), who had missed a shootout attempt against Carleton on Saturday, then converted on his attempt against Whitworth goalkeeper Jeff Srock. Venter followed with a big save for the Auggies on the next shot by Whitworth's Joey Mattina. Lucas Ingram (JR, Woodbury, Minn.) scored to put the Auggies ahead 3-1, and after Elly Bulega made it 3-2 with a goal, Peter Loyd (FY, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) clinched the decision for the Auggies with a goal.
"Pascaul was huge in the shootout," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. "We were in a good spot with Prugh missing his attempt wide, but P-Cal's save on Mattina's shot was massive, and made it next to impossible for us to not advance ... We were fortunate in this one. There were a few moments we all held our breath. Fortunately, we held strong and prevailed in the end."
The teams played to a 1-1 draw after regulation time. Augsburg controlled possession in the first portion of the game, but Whitworth put the first score on the board, as Elly Bulega collected a clearing attempt in front and headed it past Venter in the 35th minute. The goal snapped a streak of 525 scoreless minutes by Augsburg opponents over the last six games. The Auggies tied the game in the 61st minute, as Nick Anderson (JR, White Bear Lake, Minn.) finished a break on a feed from David Scheller (FY, Maple Grove, Minn.), putting the ball inside the left post from the top of the penalty box.
"Nick Anderson had his best game, and we needed that with Van Hong suspended (due to a red card). His finish was extremely well taken from 20 yards," Holker said. "James See has been incredible lately, and today was no different. I simply enjoy watching him play - and hope I get to keep on watching him a bit longer."
Whitworth outshot Augsburg by a 13-9 margin in regulation time, including an 8-4 edge in the first half. Whitworth had two corner kicks in the first two minutes of the first overtime, but could not convert. The Pirates had five shots in the second overtime, as they controlled possession through most of the 20 extra minutes. Venter made five saves in regulation and overtime, while Srock had two saves.
"We were a bit suspect in the back, and that is something we will address with film and training the next two days. To give up a goal the way we did was irritating, and we can't have those moments if we hope to get past Redlands," Holker said. "Overall, it is exciting for our institution to advance to the second round in our first trip to the NCAA tournament."
