AUGSBURG GAMECENTRAL PORTAL
(LIVE VIDEO/LIVE STATISTICS)

BOXSCORE

PHOTO GALLERY (MARK MACEMON)
PHOTO GALLERY (D3PHOTOGRAPHY.COM)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Claiming a 25-2 advantage in shots, the Augsburg College men's soccer team dominated possession throughout the game in a 1-0 win over Clarke University in a nonconference contest on Sunday afternoon at Edor Nelson Field.

In their second game in as many days, the Auggies were able to play 22 players in the contest, improving to 4-1-0 with their third straight victory. Clarke, which was also playing back-to-back games over the weekend, drops to 3-2-1 overall.

"It was a good second game on a difficult back-to-back weekend with all of the travel yesterday. We were able to rest a lot of our first-team guys and get 22 players into the match," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. "Keeping Dino Ramic (SO, Pasco, Wash./Hanford HS) off the scoresheet was the priority for us, as he has been dangerous all season for Clarke."

Augsburg limited the Crusaders' opportunities to score all afternoon, maintaining possession in the offensive half of the field for much of the contest. Augsburg goalkeeper Clayton Lynch (FY, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier HS), making his second collegiate start, had to make just one save to record his second shutout of the year.

After a scoreless first half, the Auggies scored a little over six minutes into the second half, as Chad Gilmer (SO, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) scored his second goal of the season, converting a steal by Jeff Butler (SO, Prior Lake, Minn.) and depositing the ball past Clarke goalkeeper Charlie Fast (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins HS).

"I liked the way Van Hong (SR, St. Louis Park, Minn.), Josh Sweeney (SO, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) and Matt Bowman (JR, Maple Grove, Minn.) linked together to start the second half, and I think Butler and Ahmed Gobana (JR, Burnsville, Minn.) applied conversation into practice during that same frame. It's no coincidence Gilmer's goal occurred during that 10 minute span of time," Holker said. "Joe Keller (SR, Wayzata, Minn.) was very good today after not playing yesterday, and his leadership was important to the players around him.

Twelve different Auggies had shots in the contest, led by Gilmer's five and Butler's four. Gottlieb Uahengo (SO, Windhoek, Namibia/St. George's College) had three shots.

Fast had 11 saves in goal for the Crusaders. Ian Hart (SO, East Peoria, Ill.) had both of the Crusaders' shots in the contest.

Augsburg opens Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday (9/15) at 4 p.m. with a game at St. John's. Clarke opens Midwest Collegiate Conference play next Saturday (9/18) at 3 p.m., hosting Ashford University.

"Now it's time to rest up and train on Tuesday before opening MIAC play at St. John's," Holker said. "They are an improved side and have had some good results to start the season. Keeping a close eye on Michael Coborn and getting past Colin Hall will be a great challenge for us."