MINNEAPOLIS -- Hsinku Lay (SR, Maplewood, Minn./Roseville HS) headed home a free kick in the 73rd minute to cut the Augsburg University deficit to 2-1, but the Auggie men's soccer team could get no closer, falling 2-1 to Luther College (Iowa) in a nonconference matchup on Friday evening at Edor Nelson Field.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Luther (Iowa) 2, Augsburg 1
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 4-1-1 overall, Luther 3-1-1 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• In a meeting of two nationally ranked teams -- Augsburg was ranked No. 9 and Luther ranked No. 24 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III national poll -- the Norse took the lead just 2:40 into play, then added another goal in the 40th minute. 
• The Auggies cut the lead to 2-1 with a dramatic goal off a free kick at the 72:06 mark. Nick Zuchowski (SO, Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) served the ball from midfield, and Lay headed it home from the low left corner of the six-yard box for his first goal of the season.
• Both teams had nine shots in the game. Garrett Kaelin (SR, Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) had two saves for the Auggies in goal.
• Lionel Vang (SR, Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) had five shots for the Auggies, while Zuchowski had two shots.

QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG HEAD COACH GREG HOLKER
• "This was a really good college soccer game. Luther is a perennial powerhouse in the North Region and showed why tonight. They made us pay immediately for our errors in the back, and although we had a ton of the ball, we couldn't break through their defensive pressure."
• "I thought overall we lacked a bit of defensive discipline, but I will say that we got better as the game wore on. We solved problems better, we moved the ball more effectively, and we changed our shape and became more dynamic. Even though we lost the game, it was a great opportunity for us tonight. We will learn from our mistakes and move forward, no doubt."
• "The important games start on Wednesday at Macalester, so we will do what we can to get healthy and give them everything we've got."

FOR THE FOES
• Ben Keller had a goal and assist for Luther, scoring the opening goal at the 2:40 mark from Marc-Arthur Shapiro, then assisting on a goal from Ben Sizelove at the 39:25 mark.
• Carson Davenport had four saves in goal for the Norse.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg opens Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday (9/18) at 7:30 p.m., with a game at Macalester.