BOXSCORE

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Augsburg College (1-1-0 overall) suffered a hard-fought 2-0 loss to defending Northwest Conference champion Whitworth University in nonconference action on Sunday afternoon. Whitworth was able to record two late first-half goals which proved to be to much for the Auggies to overcome.

Benjamin Wexler (SR, Minnetonka, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret HS) led the Auggies with two shots, while Van Hong (SR, St. Louis Park, Minn.) and Operolim Marcellino (SO, Rochester, Minn./Century HS) each recorded one.

Whitworth scored both of its goals in the final in the final five minutes of the first half, with Nic Shaw and Justin Mikkola recording goals at the 40:54 and 44:47 marks respectively.

"Unfortunately this result is the byproduct of mismanaging a game," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. "We had survived the moments Whitworth were strongest, so it was disappointing to concede on such simple mistakes at the end of the half. But, that's how you grow -- play strong teams early and experience real consequences for a momentary lack of concentration."

Will Morlock (FY, Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) had two saves in goal for Augsburg, while Kyle Novak had one save for Whitworth.

"To our credit, we improved significantly in the second half. We were able to stretch them out, which allowed us to keep the ball," Holker said. "The introduction of David Scheller (JR, Maple Grove, Minn.) helped slow down the pace of Justin Meyer and forced their wide players to have to defend back a bit - something they were free of in the first half. Wexler was dangerous getting endline and had one chance in each half to score when he cut across the box. I thought #T.J. Haag# (SR, Apple Valley, Minn./Burnsville HS) and Van livened up and saw more of the ball as the game progressed -- and these are things that should lead well into tomorrow's match with PLU."

Augsburg returns to action on Monday (9/6) with a match against Pacific Lutheran at Whitworth.

"Peter Loyd (JR, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) was very good, maybe our best player on the day. His tackles were strong and his choices with the ball were sharp," Holker said. "Also, Ahmed Gobana (JR, Burnsville, Minn.) was quite sharp. I expect him to grow a little more from this match and take a few risks tomorrow against a tricky PLU side."