Men's Soccer 11/8/08 -- MIAC Playoff Championship: Carleton 0, Augsburg 0 (2OT); Carleton claims title 5-3 on penalty kick shootout
GAME BOXSCORE | AUGSBURG SEASON STATISTICS
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NORTHFIELD, Minn. (11/8/08) -- In what will be remembered as a classic Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's soccer playoff championship game, the Augsburg College men's soccer team claimed a 0-0, two-overtime tie with host Carleton College, but the Knights claimed the conference's playoff title with a 5-3 win in a penalty-kick shootout on Saturday at Bell Field.
The Knights (16-1-3 overall), MIAC regular-season champions, will receive the conference's automatic berth to the 58-team NCAA Division III national tournament, which begins next week. Meanwhile, Augsburg (11-3-6 overall) falls into contention for one of 16 Pool C (at-large) bids nationwide. In the most recent Division III regional rankings last Wednesday, Augsburg was ranked No. 5 in the West Region, with Carleton ranked No. 1. National tournament bids will be announced on Monday.
In the penalty kick shootout, Carleton connected on all five shots to claim the victory, while Augsburg had its first attempt hit the crossbar. The Auggies connected on their next three shots, but Carleton's fifth goal clinched the playoff championship for the Knights.
When it comes down to penalties, there isn't much to say. For us, it will make us better if we have to do it again. That's about the only benefit," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. "Carleton will be a great representative of the MIAC in the NCAA championships. I am just hopeful that we will be joining them. I think we have earned that opportunity."
In the 110 minutes of action, Augsburg outshot Carleton by a 14-9 margin, including a 6-3 edge in the second half and a 3-2 edge in the 20 minutes of overtime. Augsburg also had eight corner kicks to Carleton's one, including six in the second half.
Augsburg controlled the tempo of the game for most of the game, but could not put the ball in the net despite several solid chances -- even after midfielder Van Hong (SO, St. Louis Park, Minn.) received his second yellow card for a red-card ejection early in the second overtime, and the Auggies had to play with just 10 men.
"We were unfortunate not to win the game in regulation. I felt we carried the run of play from halftime on -- even after Van received his second caution. However, Carleton's defense lived up to its billing. They didn't give us much room, especially for second chances," Holker said.
Augsburg goalkeeper Pascaul Venter (JR, Rochester, Minn./John Marshall HS) collected two saves, while Carleton goalkeeper Pete Semmer made five saves. Venter claimed his eighth shutout of the season with the draw and his school-record 21st shutout of his career.
"I thought Ryan Sorensen (JR, Plymouth, Minn./Osseo HS) had the game won when his volley was turned away by Semmer," Holker said. "We had one called back earlier in the game for an offsides infraction. Andrew Seidel (SR, Woodbury, Minn.) had a chance with 10 to go, but his volley sailed over the top from 15 yards. Marcus Elmerskog (FY, Trondheim, Norway) got on the end of a service but smashed it into Semmer's body in the first overtime. It was one of those games."
