VERONA, Wis. — Rallying with a pair of goals in the final 15 minutes of play, the Augsburg University men's soccer team defeated Edgewood University 2-1 in a nonconference match on Saturday at Edgewood University Field at Reddan Park. Saturday's game was a rematch of last year's NCAA Division III national playoff second-round game between the two schools, which Augsburg won 1-0 on Nov. 16, 2025, at Augsburg. Augsburg is ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches Division III preseason national poll, while Edgewood is receiving votes in the same poll.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 2, Edgewood (Wis.) 1
LOCATION: Edgewood University Field at Reddan Park, Verona, Wis.
RECORDS: Augsburg 1-0-2 overall, Edgewood 0-3-2 overall
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0,
Eric Riera tied the game for the Auggies at the 75:12 mark, scoring on the rebound in front after a
Gio Casias service from the left wing was deflected by the Edgewood goalkeeper. The Auggies then took the lead at the 80:02 mark on
Remus Repcak's goal.
Caleb Ibarra gained the ball on a tackle at midfield and laced the ball forward to
Jackson Nichols-Lindsey to the top of the 18-yard box. Nichols-Lindsey slipped the ball to the right side, and Repcak sliced a rising shot to the top left corner of the net.
The Auggies generated nine shots in the first half and forced Ezra Wallace into saves on attempts by Casias and
Liam Paradiso, but neither side scored before halftime. After Casias missed wide in the eighth minute, Augsburg built a sustained stretch from 12:39 to 19:06: Casias had a top-left shot saved, Paradiso put a bottom-center effort on frame, and the Auggies earned two corner kicks around Nichols-Lindsey's shot high. Auggie goalkeeper
Finnur Mercier kept Edgewood off the board with saves on Haris Sarajlija in the 24th minute and Che Allnutt in the 39th, while Augsburg continued to get looks through
Christopher Plaza Alvarado, Casias, and Paradiso. The half became more physical late, with the Eagles shown two yellow cards and the Auggies adding shots from
Gideon Lubin and
Jacob Thao before the segment finished 0-0.
The Auggies opened the second half with pressure, earning corners at 49:08 and 51:27 and getting shots from Ibarra and
Zachariah Sherian before Riley Kann scored for Edgewood in the 56th minute. Augsburg responded with six shots and three corners from 58:58 to 66:35, including saved attempts by Nichols-Lindsey and
Asher Johnson, then faced an Edgewood stretch that included two corners and three shots before the 73rd minute. Riera tied the match at 1-1 in the 76th minute, and the Auggies kept attacking with another Nichols-Lindsey shot, a corner, and a Nichols-Lindsey shot on goal before the go-ahead finish. Mercier made a save on Isaiah Stiebel at 88:07, and Augsburg closed out the half with a 2-1 final score.
Repcak scored on his only shot and recorded the game-winning goal.
Eric Riera added an unassisted goal, putting his lone attempt on frame. Nichols-Lindsey recorded an assist and led the Auggies with five shots, including two on goal. Mercier made three saves over 90 minutes in goal. The Auggies finished with a 23-11 advantage in shots, including an 8-4 edge in shots on goal.
QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG COACH GREG HOLKER
Coming later.
UP NEXT
Augsburg hosts Simpson College in a nonconference contest on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 5 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis.
