MINNEAPOLIS -- Mizael Harris (SR, Happy Valley, Ore./La Salle Catholic College Prep HS) scored the lone goal of the game in the 10th minute, as the No. 5-ranked Augsburg University men's soccer team opened Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 1-0 triumph over Gustavus Adolphus College on Wednesday evening.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 1, Gustavus 0
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 8-0-0 overall (1-0-0 MIAC), Gustavus 4-2-0 overall (0-1-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg scored at the 9:49 mark of the game, as Remus Repcak (JR, Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin HS) sent a nice through ball from near midfield to Harris on the right wing. Harris then sent a rising shot from 25 yards out to the net for his third goal of the season and 24th of his collegiate career.
• Goalkeeper Christian Hodges (FY, New Albany, Ohio/Tree of Life Christian School) was again outstanding for the Auggies, making several key stops, especially in the second half, as the Gusties outshot the Auggies by an 11-8 margin in the second stanza. Hodges had eight saves -- four in each half -- to claim his sixth solo shutout of the season in his eight starts.
• Harris had four shots in the game, including two on-goal, while Ceazar Daniell (SR, Portland, Ore./Cleveland HS) and Christopher Plaza Alvarado (SO, New Brighton, Minn./St. Anthony Village HS) had two shots each. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Harris now has 24 goals and 28 assists for 76 points in his 60 career games, moving into a tie for eighth place in school history in career goals and fourth in career points. His 28 career assists are second-most in school history.
• Augsburg has now outscored its opponents by a 24-1 margin in its first eight games of the season, a plus-23 goal differential that is currently second-best among all NCAA Division III schools nationally. Delaware Valley (Pa.) has a plus-24 goal differential (32 goals for, eight goals against). Augsburg is one of just 15 Division III teams to give up one or fewer goals so far this season.
• Augsburg is ranked No. 5 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III national rankings -- its highest ranking in program history. Gustavus is receiving votes in the top-25 national poll.

QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG COACH GREG HOLKER
• "That was a tale of two halves, for certain. We were outstanding in the first half, managing the rhythm of it through our possession and being thoughtful with how we attacked. Mizael Harris was on one tonight -- he just looked unstoppable, so no surprise he scored the game winner from Remus. Joseph Swallen made a massive difference back in the midfield for us and Ceazar Daniell was also very sharp in the first half, as both returned from injury."
• "In the second half, they came out with a bit more punch to them, and we sat off the game a bit too much. It seemed like we were content to hold the 1-0 scoreline, but in doing so we gave up a chance or two that were way too scary. We missed several on our own as well, but I am not a fan of sitting off like that, and I'm just happy we didn't pay a big price."
• "Getting those points against a very quality Gustavus team will be vital in the conference race, and it's another legit top-25 team that we've navigated successfully. This is a strong squad with incredible depth. We have starting caliber players not even getting in the game tonight - that's insane. How the players all collectively handle that depth will determine how we finish."

FOR THE FOES
• Kieran Mahan and Joe Flory had three shots each for Gustavus, 
• Gustavus goalkeeper Quinton Geddes had seven saves.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to Winona, Minn., to face Saint Mary's University in an MIAC contest on Saturday (9/20) at 1 p.m.