BOXSCORE
DECORAH, Iowa -- Grant Griffin (JR, Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS) and Lekpea Kordah (SR, Brooklyn Park, Minn./St. Louis Park HS) scored goals for Augsburg College, as the Auggies scored a 2-1 victory over Luther College in a nonconference men's soccer game on Saturday afternoon.
Augsburg (3-0-1 overall) handed Luther (2-1-0 overall), the No. 6-ranked team in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III national poll, its first loss of the season, in a game played in warm conditions in northern Iowa.
"The conditions were difficult today for both teams, and in the end I think we managed the game a little bit better to get the win," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. "Our guys made good choices -- when to exert themselves, and when to sit under and wait. In addition, both our goals were timely and really sharp moments -- exactly how our guys hoped it would play out."
Griffin scored his third goal of the season on assists from Ngochinyan Ollor (JR, Shoreview, MInn./Mounds View HS) and Barinedum Kordah (FY, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center HS) nine minutes into the game, and Lekpea Kordah scored his first goal of the season on an assist from Ben Henry (FY, Manitowoc, Wis./Lincoln HS) in the 52nd minute.
"Grant's goal came off a long throw by Chinyan that Barinedum flicked across the goal. He did well to attack the ball and pop it over (Luther goalie Peter) Wright for the lead on our first real chance of the game," Holker said. "Ben Henry set up the second goal well to get the second half started. After getting their defender to go to the floor for the tackle, he lifted over the top and drove to the endline and picked out Lekpea for a calm finish into the lower corner. Credit to Lekpea for adjusting his run correctly to be available for the cross."
Luther outshot Augsburg by a 14-10 margin, but Auggie goalkeeper Clayton Lynch (SR, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier HS) collected four saves in goal for the win, with the Norse gaining an unassisted goal from Jon Gendalske in the 79th minute. Wright had three saves in goal for Luther.
"Clayton was tremendous today as he managed to weather the storm at the end," Holker said. "His distribution was sharp and put us in a few times, and his match management overall was right on task. He showed some real courage in two separate moments as he flew into a lot of bodies to punch away the danger."
Augsburg will return to action on Friday (9/13) at 7 p.m., facing its second nationally ranked team in a row, as No. 4-ranked Wheaton (Ill.) comes to Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis.
"Our back four played with confidence and were sharp from the opening whistle - they are getting better and better, as is the rest of the team, each time we get on the field," Holker said. "Moving forward, they will face an even stiffer task when we host Wheaton on Friday. Their attack is as dangerous as any in the country and they are ranked in the top of the national polls because they have all the pieces to make a run at the national championship this season. It will be an honor to host them and an opportunity to really measure where we stand before we head into MIAC play. We are expecting a healthy crowd -- and will need as much of their help as we can get."
