MINNEAPOLIS -- Playing its third game in a four-day span to open the season, the Augsburg University men's soccer team remained unbeaten with an impressive 2-1 victory over the University of Puget Sound on Saturday afternoon at Edor Nelson Field.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 2, Puget Sound (Wash.) 1
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 3-0-0 overall, Puget Sound 1-1-0 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The game was a physical, hard-fought affair, with the teams combining for 30 fouls (Puget Sound 17, Augsburg 13). Puget Sound players received four yellow cards, while Augsburg players were booked three times.
• Puget Sound scored just one minute, 50 seconds into play, but Augsburg scored twice in a five-minute span later in the first half to take a lead it would not relinquish.
• Kobby Owu (JR, St. Paul, Minn./Como Park HS) scored in the 30th minute, stealing the ball from a Puget Sound player near midfield and sprinting down the left side and depositing the ball through the box and into the net for his second goal of the season.
• Helio De La Torre (SO, Oakdale, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) then scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 35th minute, pouncing on a cross in the six-yard box by Peter Kraus (FY, Madison, Wis./Madison West HS) and depositing it in the net to give the Auggies the lead.
• Puget Sound outshot Augsburg by a 13-10 margin and had a 2-1 advantage on corner kicks.
• Oscar Herrera (FY, Madison, Wis./Madison West HS) recorded five saves in goal to improve to 3-0-0 on the season.
• Owu had four shots, including three on-frame, for the Auggies, while Kraus had two shots.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• De La Torre now leads all Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference players in overall statistics with four goals and 10 points. 

FOR THE FOES
• Ryan Smith scored for Puget Sound at the 1:50 mark of the game, taking advantage of a cross that was misplayed by the Augsburg defense and shooting into the open net.
• Andrew Matheny had three saves in goal for the Loggers.

QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG COACH GREG HOLKER
• "This was a different type of game than we have experienced for a while, so it was good our guys showed some teeth and found a way to win -- especially when giving up the early goal. It's a tough turnaround with so many games in such a tight window, so the value of our substitutes is more important than ever and they have done a tremendous job."
• "Nick Zuchowski was tremendous. He is the central figure in our attack and he did a lot more than we normally ask of him today. His turn to set up Kraus's run was critical. It allowed Kraus get into space and find Helio on the back post for our game-winning goal. Drew Collins, even now that he's rounded the sun for his 21st birthday, was the same old Drew -- just a warrior who's up for anything. He can get crushed and won't stop. It's incredible."
• "Oscar managed the game very well today in goal, and had to make one big save when he tipped a headed free kick into the underside of the crossbar. We survived a few moments, but it was his leadership and quality that assured the result."
• "Next up is Central, who is a very good side. They played St. Olaf to the final whistle on opening day and are currently up 4-2 on Grinnell. It's a big grass field, and another short rest for us."

UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to face Central College on Monday (9/6) at 3 p.m. in Pella, Iowa.