BOXSCORE | AUGSBURG MEN'S SOCCER VIDEO PAGE

MINNEAPOLIS -- Behind second-half goals from Ryan Sorensen (SR, Plymouth, Minn./Osseo HS) and Alex Hildebrandt (SR, St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park HS), the Augsburg College men's soccer team claimed a 2-1 victory over the College of St. Scholastica in a nonconference game on Tuesday night at Augsburg's Edor Nelson Field.

Sorensen scored on a penalty kick in the 65th minute, and Hildebrandt headed home a free kick from 40 yards out by Peter Osborn (SO, Eagan, Minn./Eastview HS) in the 73rd minute, giving the Auggies (6-7-1 overall) the victory.

St. Scholastica (12-2-2 overall) scored in the 19th minute on an "own goal," as an Augsburg defender redirected a cross into his own net.

In breaking two uncharacteristic streaks for the Auggies in recent years -- a seven-game losing streak and four-game scoreless streak -- the Auggies played inspired soccer, especially in the second half. In the game, Augsburg outshot St. Scholastica by a 13-9 margin and had seven corner kicks to St. Scholastica's one -- including a 6-0 advantage in the second half.

"This is the second year in a row we have scored on ourselves when playing St. Scholastica. We never felt threated by them; they had one chance in the second half that was a good one, but Pascaul Venter (SR, Rochester, Minn./John Marshall HS) snuffed out Jermaine Dacres' attempt with a great save. He parried away a bouncing ball first and recovered to collect the save," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. "St. Scholastica is a physical team -- fast up front, but their midfield doesn't see much of the ball in the attack. The long ones whacked over our backs became a bit of a nuisance as the night wore on. Fortunately, we were able to gather ourselves a bit at the half and lock them in their part of the field for the rest of the game."

Augsburg outshot St. Scholastica by an 8-4 margin in the second half and had several chances to score, capping it off in the 65th minute, when Sorensen drew a foul in the box to earn a penalty kick. He put the kick in the left side of the net for his second goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.

Eight minutes later, Augsburg scored on another set piece, as Osborn played a free kick from 40 yards out into the box, and Hildebrandt emerged with a header to the top left corner of the goal for his third goal of the year. Augsburg's defense held firm for the last 17 minutes and controlled possession to earn the win.

"Sorensen did well to draw a penalty, although I thought that chip on Chad Gilmer (FY, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) a few minutes earlier was more of a penalty. Regardless, he finished it calmly to bring us level and record our first goal since Sept. 25," Holker said. "We almost extended our lead to 3-1 when Hildebrandt just missed wide from 18 yards out, and then again when Nick Anderson's (SR, White Bear Lake, Minn.) strike was headed off the line 10 minutes later."

Augsburg goalkeeper Venter collected six saves in goal to earn the victory, while St. Scholastica goalkeeper Sam Reed (SO, Eastbourne, England/Causeway School) had two saves.

Hildebrandt had four shots to lead the Auggies, while Sorensen had three. Jermaine Dacres (JR, Nottingham, England/Haywood Comprehensive) and Greg Doornink (JR, Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) had two shots each for the Saints.

Augsburg has its final home game of the season on Friday (10/23) at 7 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field, hosting Hamline in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.

"I know after the game, the boys were looking forward to playing again as soon as they could," Holker said. "Hamline comes in on Friday with one of the better players in the conference in Drew Lukas. We hope to contain him and start a new streak of our own."