MINNEAPOLIS -- Lionel Vang (SR, Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) and Daniel Hedstrom (SR, Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) scored huge goals in the second half for Augsburg University, as the Auggies claimed an important regional victory, a 2-1 nonconference win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Saturday evening at Edor Nelson Field.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 2, Wisconsin-Superior 1
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 3-0-1 overall, UW-Superior 3-1-0 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• After a scoreless first half, the Auggies struck first 11 minutes into the second half, as Vang extended his consecutive-game point streak to five straight games, dating to last season, scoring his second goal of the 2019 campaign. An Auggie throw-in from the right side went over its intended target, but a sprinting Vang found the loose ball in the open middle near the penalty spot. His initial point-blank shot was saved by the Yellowjacket goalie, but he put the rebound into the lower right corner of the net.
• Vang then gained his fourth assist of the season at the 66:00 mark. He drew a foul 35 yards out on the left side, and his bouncing free kick sailed through the box to the far post, where it found Hedstrom, who banged it home for his second goal of the year.
• UW-Superior cut the lead to 2-1 with a penalty kick goal in the 72nd minute, but could not convert against a strong Augsburg defense. Goalkeeper Garrett Kaelin (SR, Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) had three saves in the game, including a tip on a shot that just went over the crossbar in the second half.
• Defenders Hedstrom, Hsinku Lay (SR, Maplewood, Minn./Roseville HS) and Nick Vergara (JR, Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest HS) played the full 90 minutes, with Taylor Sullivan (SR, Waukesha, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) playing 78 minutes. 
• Both teams had 11 shots and both teams had four corner kicks in the evenly-matched game between two 2018 NCAA Division III national tournament teams. The Auggies controlled possession for 56 percent of the time, compared to 44 percent for the Yellowjackets.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Including the final game of the 2018 season -- a 2-1 loss to UW-Superior in the first round of the NCAA national tournament -- Vang has now had a goal or assist in five straight games, with two goals and five assists for nine points to his credit. His eight points this season (two goals, four assists) put him third among Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference players in overall statistics, with his four assists now second-most in the MIAC.
• Saturday's decision snapped a 20-game regular-season unbeaten streak (19-0-1) for UW-Superior, dating to the start of the 2018 season. The Yellowjackets also claimed two Upper Midwest Athletic Conference playoff victories and a 1-1-0 mark in the NCAA tournament the streak.

QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG HEAD COACH GREG HOLKER
• "This was an important win against a very good UW-Superior team. I am proud of the guys for finding a way to solve the problems they created for us, and it certainly helps when you have Lionel Vang and Daniel Hedstrom. Lionel has recorded at least a point in every one of our games so far, and Dan is often on the end of his services. If we need dead balls to unlock the game, we have a great pair for it."
• "I was so happy for Nick Vergara to be able to come back a year after a horrific leg injury in this same game and play as well as he did. He is such an incredible young man and has a heart the size of our campus, so this was a special day for him."
• "G came up with the important save we needed when he tipped their header over the bar shortly after we went up 2-0. He is so reliable when called upon."
• "I really enjoyed watching Miguel Tejeda tonight. He's such an incredible talent and he looked confident and brave tonight."
• "Hsinku was a beast in the back -- he will do anything to protect this team and his play reflects that. It's an honor to have such a servant warrior on our team!"

FOR THE FOES
• Eric Watson scored on a penalty kick in the 72nd minute for UW-Superior. 
• Dalton VonKaenel had six saves in goal for the Yellowjackets.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to face Minnesota Morris on Wednesday (9/11) at 4 p.m.