MINNEAPOLIS -- A penalty kick goal by Lionel Vang (SR, Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) in the 21st minute gave Augsburg University the early lead, and Augsburg's stout defense preserved it, as the Auggies scored a 1-0 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's soccer win over Gustavus Adolphus College on Tuesday evening at Edor Nelson Field.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 1, Gustavus 0
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 5-4-1 overall (1-3-0 MIAC), Gustavus 7-2-0 overall (2-1-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• On a free kick by Vang from 35 yards out served into the goal area, Drew Collins (FY, Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) was fouled from behind in front of the goal, resulting in a penalty kick opportunity for Vang, his second of the season. Vang served the ball to the low right corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season and 15th point of the year.
• Augsburg played one of its most thorough team games of the year, as its defense denied numerous Gustavus opportunities, especially in the second half. Gustavus outshot Augsburg by an 18-11 margin in the contest, including a 12-7 margin in the second half.
• Goalkeeper Garrett Kaelin (SR, Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) came up big for the Auggies, picking up his first shutout of the season with a five-save effort.
• One of the key moments for the Auggie defense came with just under five minutes to play, as a long service from about 40 yards out was flicked through the goal mouth on a back heel towards an open net. A sliding Hsinku Lay (SR, Maplewood, Minn./Roseville HS) kept the ball out of the net, getting to the ball to deflect the shot from a sprinting Gustavus player.
• Augsburg's defensive backfield of Lay, Collins, Daniel Hedstrom (SR, Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS), and Nick Vergara (JR, Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest HS), along with center midfielder Michael Henry (SO, Manitowoc, Wis./Lincoln HS), were effective throughout the game, with all five playing the full 90 minutes to protect Kaelin's net.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Gustavus, which entered Tuesday's game as the NCAA Division III national leader in goals per-game (4.88), assists per-game (4.88) and points per-game (14.63), were shut out for the first time in nine games this season. Gustavus entered the game outscoring its opponents by a 39-7 margin this year.
• Augsburg's leader in goals (five), assists (five) and points (15), Vang has at least one point in eight of Augsburg's 10 games this season, including each of Augsburg's victories.

FOR THE FOES
• Wesley Sanders had seven saves in goal for Gustavus.
• Matt Gibbons had five shots and Nicholas Leach had four shots for the Gusties.

QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG HEAD COACH GREG HOLKER
• "That was an absolute team effort from the guys tonight. We stayed disciplined and were extremely responsible in the back, and had to be to stop the high-scoring Gusties. It's been 20 days since we last won, and a long time since we kept a clean sheet. We were all very aware of this, and the level of pressure that we had on us tonight was extreme, and that makes me even prouder of the guys to be able to show their resiliency and commitment to each other. For the first time this season, we didn't have the majority of possession, and that was exactly what the game called for in order for us to win. Guys had to be selfless tonight and get away from some of the stuff they might enjoy more to do what was needed. I really appreciated that. 
UP NEXT
• Augsburg hosts Wisconsin-Platteville in a nonconference game on Saturday (10/5) at 2 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field.
• Gustavus hosts St. Olaf in MIAC play on Saturday at 1 p.m.