ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The Augsburg University men's soccer team gained three important points in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, topping Bethel University 3-2 on Wednesday in league play.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 3, Bethel 2
LOCATION: Ona Orth Athletic Complex, Arden Hills, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 5-2-7 overall (4-2-3 MIAC), Bethel 4-10-2 overall (1-5-2 MIAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Liam Paradiso put the Auggies in front in the 10th minute, collecting a long pass from midfield by
Gio Casias and heading it into the net for a 1-0 advantage. Earlier,
Finnur Mercier made a save on a Bethel shot in the third minute, and Augsburg also got a team save before Casias put a shot over the top in the ninth. After the goal, the Auggies absorbed a Royals push that included six shots and two corners from 11:44 to 20:55 without conceding. Augsburg created another stretch of pressure later in the half, with Casias hitting the top woodwork at 25:22,
Remus Repcak forcing a save in the 39th minute and the Auggies earning two corners in less than four minutes.
Caleb Ibarra scored from
Christopher Plaza Alvarado at 46:23 to put the Auggies ahead 2-0, after Plaza Alvarado stole the ball in the defensive zone, worked it to midfield and served a long pass to Ibarra, who dribbled past the charging Bethel goalkeeper and deposited the ball in the net. Ibarra then added a saved shot as Augsburg earned two corners in a three-minute stretch. The Royals answered with goals at 58:35 and 61:08 to tie the match at 2-2, before the Auggies worked back to the lead through
Gideon Lubin, who scored off
Dailan Bangu's assist at 72:48. The eventual game-winning goal came following a clever crossing pass from right to left by Bangu, with Lubin scoring on a rebound of his initial blocked shot. Earlier,. After the go-ahead goal, the Auggies absorbed 10 Bethel attacking actions from 76:07 to 87:31, including Mercier's save on Solomon Straub in the 84th minute.
Lubin scored the game-winning goal and finished with three shots. Paradiso scored the Auggies' first goal and put one of his two shots on frame. Ibarra scored on two shots on goal, finishing with two points. Casias recorded an assist and led Augsburg with four shots.
QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG COACH GREG HOLKER
"This was a clunky game for a lot of reasons. We haven't beaten Bethel in forever for some reason, so there's that small part of the story that finally gets closed. On top of that, Jeremy and I spend too much time shaking our heads at the on-field decisions leading up to the goals."
"At 2-0 up, I thought we had a third when Caleb got in behind, but the angle just closed on him and their GK made a good stop. Then suddenly it was 2-2 out of nothing and the game was back to chaos. I loved that two substitutes combined to give us the winner with Dailan finding Gideon. I also thought
Given Aboni was impactful off the bench to manage almost 30 minutes in the second half. He held the ball up well, and competed to win set pieces on both sides of the field. Zach Sherian won a bunch of balls in MF and played an important role as well from the bench."
"Fifteen points traditionally gets you across the line into the playoffs, but this year it looks like it may not be enough. So once again, it is likely to come down to the final game against Macalester, like it has so many times over the past 4-5 years."
UP NEXT
The Auggies travel to Superior, Wis., to face the University of Wisconsin-Superior in a noconference contest on Friday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m.
