AUGSBURG GAMECENTRAL PORTAL
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GAME BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS -- Courtney Gamrath (JR, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) scored on a penalty kick and added an assist on the go-ahead goal, as the Augsburg College women's soccer team scored a 3-1 win over visiting St. Mary's University in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest on Wednesday evening at Edor Nelson Field.

Trailing 1-0 in the 33rd minute, Gamrath scored on a penalty kick, following a play where Augsburg's Carly Reimer (SO, Eagan, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) was fouled on a breakaway in the penalty box.

With 18 seconds left in the first half, Augsburg (6-8-3 overall, 5-4-1 MIAC) took the lead when Gamrath got a steal and fed the ball through to Rachel Nelson (FY, Coon Rapids, Minn.), who scored from the center of the penalty box.

"I was very proud of our effort tonight. The team was very excited to play," said Augsburg head coach Mike Navarre. "Unfortunately, we had to defend the wind first and St. Mary's got a great goal 10 minutes in. However, we did not get discouraged; rather, the team stayed together and were able to get level the match with Courtney Gamrath's penalty and go ahead with a great finish from Rachel Nelson."

Augsburg added an insurance goal in the 80th minute, as Lacey Hoover (SR, Duluth, Minn./Central HS) scored the 16th goal of her career, scoring on a scramble in front of the net off a feed from the right side by Reimer.

"The wind made it difficult to connect behind their back line in the second half, but we were still able to get a great finish from Lacey to go up two goals," Navarre said.

St. Mary's (7-8-1 overall, 4-5-1 MIAC) scored its lone goal of the game in the ninth minute, as Amy Sibik (SR, Onalaska, Wis.) scored her 46th career goal on a blast from 35 yards out, which caught a strong wind and flew to the upper corner of the net.

The teams had to handle a strong wind of more than 25 mph, with gusts reported as high as 36 mph, during the game, along with frigid late October temperatures.

Augsburg outshot St. Mary's by a 19-14 margin, and also claimed eight corner kicks to the Cardinals' one in the contest. Gamrath had five shots for Augsburg while Reimer had four. Sibik's five shots led St. Mary's.

Both teams conclude the regular season on Saturday (10/30), as Augsburg plays at Gustavus at 11 a.m. and St. Mary's plays at St. Thomas at 1 p.m.

With the win, Augsburg remains alive in the hunt for one of the two remaining spots in the four-team MIAC postseason playoffs. Augsburg now has 16 conference points (three points for a win, one point for a tie), putting it into a tie for sixth place in the standings. For Augsburg to advance to the playoffs, it would need to win on Saturday and also have help in the form of losses by St. Olaf, St. Benedict and Macalester.

"I'm particularly proud of our seniors. They have done a great job of motivating the team as we fight to keep our playoffs hopes alive," Navarre said.