Men's Soccer 11/4/08 -- MIAC Playoff Semifinals: Augsburg 3, Gustavus 0
GAME BOXSCORE | AUGSBURG SEASON STATISTICS
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ST. PETER, Minn. (11/4/08) -- Scoring three goals in the second half, the Augsburg College men's soccer team won its first postseason game since 1979 and broke a 12-game losing streak to Gustavus Adolphus College in the process, advancing to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff championship game with a 3-0 triumph over the Gusties in a conference playoff semifinal game Tuesday afternoon at the Gustie Soccer Field.
Augsburg (11-3-5 overall) claimed its first postseason win in any level of men's soccer competition -- MIAC, NAIA or NCAA Division III -- since a 3-0 conference playoff win over Gustavus on Nov. 3, 1979. The Auggies also collected their first win over the Gusties (13-5-1 overall) since a 2-1 win on Oct. 22, 1997. It is also the first win for Augsburg head coach Greg Holker -- a 2000 Gustavus graduate -- over his alma mater.
In the four-team MIAC postseason playoffs for the second time in the last three years, Augsburg will advance to play top-seed Carleton (17-1-2 overall) in the conference championship game on Saturday (11/8) at 2 p.m. in Northfield, Minn., with the winner receiving an automatic (Pool A) bid to the 58-team NCAA Division III postseason playoffs and the loser a possible candidate for one of 16 at-large (Pool C) bids nationwide. In the most recent NCAA Division III regional rankings last Wednesday, Augsburg was ranked No. 5 in the West Region. Conference regular-season champion Carleton advanced to the MIAC playoff title game with a 2-0 win over No. 4-seed St. Thomas (12-7-1) on Tuesday. On Oct. 11, Augsburg handed Carleton its lone loss of the season, a 1-0 Auggie triumph in Northfield.
"Carleton will be looking to avenge their only loss, and are looking forward to the challenge," Holker said. "We have now scored seven goals in our last two games. We have spent a lot of time in the final third in the last three weeks, and it is starting to pay off. On top of that, we have remained stingy in the back."
Ten minutes into the second half, Ryley Teske (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Lutheran HS) put the Auggies on the board, taking a cross from #D.J. Wendell# (JR, Princeton, Minn./Charles M. Russell (Mont.) HS) and putting a shot to the bottom right corner of the goal. Nine minutes later, Marcus Elmerskog (FY, Trondheim, Norway) scored his first collegiate goal, on a one-timer to the left corner from 15 yards out on a cross from Nick Anderson (JR, White Bear Lake, Minn.).
"Teske has been instrumental in our success since his return from injury, and for him to score the game-winner was very appropriate," Holker said. "Marcus made a difference today. He allowed Ryley to get some needed rest, and he elevated play when he entered. We hope he continues this trend on Saturday."
In the 84th minute, Augsburg completed the scoring as Ryan Sorensen (JR, Plymouth, Minn./Osseo HS) took a failed clearing attempt and scored on a two-touch shot to the top right corner.
"Sorensen's goal was a long time coming. I think I had as much fun on that as he did," Holker said. "James See (SR, Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels HS) and Alex Hildebrandt (JR, St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park HS) did what great players do in big games -- they played above themselves. James has been fun to watch, and I know he will take great pride in his responsibility on Saturday. Alex is no different -- he will make certain this team is concentrated on its objectives."
Augsburg goalkeeper Pascaul Venter (JR, Rochester, Minn./John Marshall HS) collected four saves in goal in recording his seventh shutout of the season and school-record 20th of his career. Augsburg outshot Gustavus by an 11-8 margin in the game. Gustavus goalkeeper Luke Strom had three saves in goal.
"Pascaul is on form, recording his 20th career shutout. He is the standard in our program at his position," Holker said.
As a team, Augsburg claimed its fourth straight shutout (3-0-1) and sixth in its last eight games, extending its opponent scoreless streak to 380 minutes. Augsburg has outscored its opponents by a 32-10 margin this season, including a 9-0 margin in its last four games and 13-3 margin in its last eight games.
