BOXSCORE

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Benjamin Wexler (SR, Minnetonka, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret HS) scored his second and third goals of the season, leading Augsburg College  (2-1-0 overall) to a 3-0 win over Pacific Lutheran University in a nonconference men's soccer contest held at Whitworth University on Monday.

Ahmed Gobana (JR, Burnsville, Minn.) collected two assists for the Auggies, with Chad Gilmer (SO, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) adding the other Auggie goal.

"Our goal this weekend was to get better each half and prepare ourselves for the rigors of MIAC play, and we feel we accomplished that," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker, whose team split its two games in Spokane over the weekend. "Today's game was an improvement from yesterday's, and the result clearly reflects that."

Wexler, a transfer who played his first three seasons at Division I Providence (R.I.), scored twice in a 2:09 span in the first half -- scoring off a free kick by Matt Bowman (JR, Maple Grove, Minn.) at the 30:11 mark, and putting home a long pass from Gobana at the 32:20 mark. Gilmer's goal came off an end-line drive by Gobana in the 69th minute.

"Ahmed had a feeling he was going to be successful today based on the matchup, and he didn't disappoint," Holker said. "His ability to drive around the end line and flash dangerous balls into the box was a highlight today. Pair that with Gilmer finally getting on the end of one and Wexler finding two more goals, and our front three looked pretty sharp."

Goalkeeper Clayton Lynch (FY, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier HS), playing his first collegiate game, collected two saves for his first college shutout for the Auggies.

"Clayton Lynch was very steady in his debut between the pipes," Holker said. "His match management reflected that of a player that once wore the same number, and his distribution was spot-on."

Augsburg outshot PLU by a 12-10 mark, and took advantage of a red-card ejection in the 22nd minute that forced PLU to play with 10 men the rest of the way.

"I thought we were in command of the game before Brennen Hall's challenge on Peter Loyd (JR, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) forced PLU to play with 10 men. That moment definitely made their task more difficult, especially coming off a double-overtime draw with UC-Santa Cruz the day prior," Holker said. "From that point forward, we were pretty comfortable, although they are explosive at any moment -- especially with Chad Kearns and Spencer Augustin running at you. However, our back four were up to the task. They were sharp, vocal, and clean on the ball. Tyler Heaps (SO, St. Paul, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) recovered from Sunday's game and performed at a much higher level, and Kevin Butcher (SO, Fort Collins, Colo.) brought a steadiness to the center of the back.

"#T.J. Haag# (SR, Apple Valley, Minn./Burnsville HS) and Bowman were very sharp in midfield and both of those guys needed a game like this for their confidence. I enjoyed watching them interchange and consistently make good decisions on the ball."

Augsburg returns to nonconference play on Saturday (9/11) at 3 p.m., with a game at Wartburg (Iowa).