BOXSCORE BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS -- Greg Holker tied former coach Rolf Eriksen for the most victories as an Augsburg College men's soccer head coach on Friday, as Holker's Auggies claimed a 3-0 victory over Hamline University in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Edor Nelson Field.

In his eighth season as Augsburg's head coach, Holker improved to 81-51-18 in his career, tying Eriksen's number of victories in his Auggie career. Erikson was 81-32-19 in nine seasons with the Auggies (1971-73, 1976-81).

Gottlieb Uahengo (SO, Windhoek, Namibia/St. George's College) scored a goal and added an assist to lead Augsburg (9-4-2 overall, 5-3-0 MIAC) to the victory. Matt Bowman (SR, Maple Grove, Minn.) and Chinyan Ollor (FY, Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) also scored goals for the Auggies.

With the victory, Augsburg moves into a tie for fourth place in the MIAC standings with Macalester, each with 5-3-0 league records and 15 conference points (three points for a win, one point for a tie). There are six teams with 12 or more league points with one week remaining in the regular season; the top four teams in the standings qualify for the MIAC postseason playoffs.

"We had a few improved performances from various individuals and the collective effort was very strong. I thought we were better in the second half and the scoring reflected that," Holker said. "For us, keeping a clean sheet and not conceding a free kick were priorities for the game and for our mental well-being. We went through a rough little patch the last four games, but the energy tonight leads me to believe we will move forward and make a run at this thing."

Bowman put the Auggies on the scoreboard in the 28th minute, assisted by Tyler Heaps (JR, St. Paul, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) and Ahmed Gobana (SR, Burnsville, Minn.). Bowman collected a pass across the field to the left side of the goal, and he deposited it for his first goal of the season.

"That was Bowman's first goal from the run of play in his career, and it came from some very good build up play," Holker said. "He ran from deep to get around their backs and head across the face of the goal."

Augsburg then scored twice in a 2:05 span in the second half. At the 70:21 mark, Uahengo headed home a feed for his second goal of the year, assisted by #O.P. Marcellino# (JR, Rochester, Minn./Century HS) and Peter Loyd (SR, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS). At the 72:26 mark, Uahengo fed a pass to Ollor, who was able to get past Hamline's goalkeeper to put the ball in the net for his third goal of the season.

"Chinyan's goal was fantastic. His effort in training recently earned him a place on the field and Gottlieb's service was incredible to put him into a dangerous spot," Holker said.

Will Morlock (SO, Grand Haven, Mich.) collected five saves for his fourth shutout of the season and 12th of his 21-game Auggie career. The shutout was Augsburg's eighth of the season.

The game also marked the return to the lineup for 2010 MIAC Player of the Year Chad Gilmer (JR, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS), who missed the last three games due to injury. He played 79 minutes on Friday, moving from his normal position on defense to forward against the Pipers.

"Having Chad back is important for a lot of reasons, but most important is the fact that every player here looks up to him and he is not intimidated by that. He helps others around him be better at everything," Holker said. "Danny Osip (SO, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) was solid in the back and Sherif Soud (JR, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan HS) is incredible back there right now. Our injuries presented them a chance to grow in difficult circumstances and they have done it right.

Augsburg outshot Hamline by a 15-9 margin, with Piper goalkeeper Zach Nelson (SR, Eagan, Minn.) collecting five saves. Kevin Gjersvig (FY, Mankato, Minn./East HS) and Ibou Wone (SR, Dakar, Senegal/Malick SY) had three shots each for the Pipers.

Augsburg has its regular-season home finale on Wednesday (10/26), hosting Concordia-Moorhead in a soccer doubleheader at Edor Nelson Field. The women's soccer game will be at 4 p.m., with the men's soccer game following at 6:15 p.m.