MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg University men's soccer coach
Greg Holker earned his 200th career victory on Wednesday evening, as a goal seconds into the second half gave his No. 7-ranked Auggies a 1-0 nonconference victory over the No. 18-ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 1, Wisconsin-Eau Claire 0
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 6-0-0 overall, UW-Eau Claire 2-1-1 overall
HOW IT HAPPENED
• A closely contested game between two regional rivals was decided 11 seconds into the second half, when the Auggies scored an improbable goal off the kickoff.
Mizael Harris (SR, Happy Valley, Ore./La Salle Catholic College Prep HS) sprinted forward past several Blugolds and slid the ball to his left to
Mitchel Munzing (SR, Portland, Ore./Grant HS), who popped the ball forward and past the goalkeeper for the lone goal of the game, Munzing's fourth score of the season.
• The Blugolds nearly tied the game 10 minutes later, but Auggie goalkeeper
Christian Hodges (FY, New Albany, Ohio/Tree of Life Christian School) came up huge yet again, staring down a Blugold break with a save on a point-blank shot at the top of the six-yard box.
• For the second straight game, Hodges collected nine saves, recording his fifth shutout in the first six games of his collegiate career. Playing all but 19:35 of action in goal so far this season, Hodges has now stopped all 24 shots on-goal that he has faced.
• The Blugolds, ranked No. 18 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III national poll, outshot the No. 7-ranked Auggies by a 13-9 margin in the tight, physical contest. Both teams had 50 percent possession in the game.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Augsburg's all-time leader in men's soccer coaching victories, Holker earned his 200th career victory on Wednesday. He is now 200-134-53 in his 22 years as the Auggies' mentor.
QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG COACH GREG HOLKER
• "This group is so fun to be around -- they are great people and they work hard and they care about each other. I am privileged to be able to spend this amount of time with them, and when good people work hard, good things happen. Tonight, we caught a break right off the second half kickoff on an GK error, but those are the bounces you need to get through a season as difficult as ours is."
• "
Christopher Plaza Alvarado was unbelievable tonight. He's been so good for us this year, but tonight he was at a different level. I am so happy for him. He is so fun to watch. I also loved
Mizael Harris's work rate tonight and all season -- he's been totally committed to doing what it takes to win.
Jeffrey Richter continues to impress in the back for us, and he was really busy tonight. He's been a tremendous leader, and that isn't going to change anytime soon."
• "We made one mistake in the back that allowed them to get in behind us, and our rookie goalkeeper,
Christian Hodges, was there to bail us out with a monster save to keep our shutout streak alive. He had several other very important moments, especially collecting all those long throws and free kicks."
• "I should mention
Samson Gyasi and Jackson Nichols Lindsey, as they entered the game with 12 minutes remaining to kill it off, and they were both highly effective. Sammy did well in the first half as well, when he came in to give Cole and our medical staff a chance to stop his nose from bleeding."
• "With one game remaining ahead of MIAC play, we have one chance left to better prepare ourselves for one of the best conferences in the country."
FOR THE FOES
• Noah Malcook had five shots, including three on-frame, for UW-Eau Claire.
• Charlie Mroz had two saves in goal for the Blugolds.
UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to face the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in nonconference play on Saturday (9/13) at 1 p.m. in Whitewater, Wis.
