BOXSCORE OSHKOSH, Wis. – Scoring twice in a 4:23 span in the first half, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh built a lead and eventually claimed a 3-0 win over visiting Augsburg College in a nonconference men's soccer game on Saturday afternoon at J.J. Keller Field.

The Titans (7-0-4 overall), ranked No. 13 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III national poll and No. 18 in the latest D3soccer.com national poll, scored in the 35th and 39th minutes to take a 2-0 halftime lead, and added a goal in the 79th minute for the final margin.

Wisconsin-Oshkosh outshot Augsburg (7-3-1 overall) by a 13-12 margin, with Augsburg goalkeeper Clayton Lynch (SR, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier HS) collecting four saves in goal. Nick Barry had seven saves in goal for the shutout win for the Titans.

"We were defeated by a better team today. They were sharper from the opening moment, won every tackle and ball in the air, and just moved more efficiently than we did. They had good rhythm, great wing play, and were deep -- they used 10 quality substitutes in the first half. They don't concede goals, and are absolutely committed to making sure no one scores on them," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. "For us, the challenge is about finding consistency and continuing to mature as the season progresses. We have had some good results thus far, and are in a good position in the league. Games against teams like this are helpful in the sense that they are both humbling and educational. We learn that if we give everything we have, then we always have a chance to get a result. If we don't, the challenge becomes too much."

Paul Messerly scored on a goal from Elisa Eftimiou from 18 yards out at the 34:23 mark, and Chris Whalen scored from Tanner Freund and Kirby Allen on a header from 12 yards out at the 38:46 mark.

"We started this game on our heels, and paid for it by conceding two easily preventable goals," Holker said. "Their first goal came from a corner kick that we did not clear space on, holding multiple players onside and leaving Lynch on an island. The second came from a moment of sloppy play on the ball from a back, a quick turnover, and then failing to find runners off the ball and stay tight with them. Chasing a 2-0 deficit at half against Oshkosh is an extremely tall task."

Toby Starnes completed the scoring for the Titans with a goal at the 78:55 mark from Efthimiou.

"In the second half, we were much improved. Our quality on the ball was better, out pressure on their service was tighter and created some turnovers. We put together a few really good scoring chances -- we just worked harder and were more competitive," Holker said. "Unfortunately, they stung us with a third, as we turned it over in their half and lost players in transition and then ball-watched. Fantastic goal by Oshkosh, but again -- if we were tuned in to more than the ball we wouldn't have suffered. You always risk the third goal by pushing numbers forward to try and get back into it, but at this moment we had four players defending two. That's just not not good enough."

Ngochinyan Ollor (JR, Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS), Tanner McCarthy (JR, Windsor Heights, Iowa/Dowling HS), Ben Henry (FY, Manitowoc, Wis./Lincoln HS) and Lekpea Kordah (SR, Brooklyn Park, Minn./St. Louis Park HS) had two shots each for Augsburg.

The Auggies return to action on Monday (10/7) at 7:30 p.m., hosting Northwestern-St. Paul in a nonconference game at Edor Nelson Field.

"This effort makes Monday an even trickier game. Northwestern had a great weekend, beating UM-Morris 1-0 and then hammering Crown 8-2. They are really well coached and always work very hard for each other," Holker said. "We need to find consistency in our effort if we are to be a factor in the MIAC race. This is our last nonconference game -- our last chance to really meddle with things. I'm interested to see who steps up and shows they want to be a factor in the last month of the season."