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
"This was the second time we've been on a long bus trip, traveling to and from in one day and have found ourselves down 1-0 at some point. Like the Wartburg game, we came back to go up 2-1 -- and this time we did well maintaining that margin, showing some real early maturity and progress. I am so impressed that we have come back like that twice -- it shows some grit and resilience in the group that will help us moving forward."
"In the game,
Jackson Nichols-Lindsey was especially effective on both ends of the field. He will want the goal we conceded back, but he more than made up for that slip by creating several quality chances and the game winning goal. He was outstanding tonight. I also thought
Gio Casias came alive, now that he is through a little muscle issue. He was everywhere and exceptionally effective holding the ball for us and creating overloads in wide spaces. When his free kicks start ticking, he will be even more valuable for us."
"
Remus Repcak only knows how to score incredible goals. He's hit three absolute bangers three years in a row now, and tonight's missile was as tight to the top corner as it gets. To get as high as he does from right back is so important for how we play, and there aren't many out there that can do what he can."
"
Gideon Lubin made his season debut tonight and was very effective. I couldn't take him off the field even if I had hoped to get him some rest - he was that influential."
"It was a fun night overall for the program -- a come from behind win, a great bus ride home, and an undefeated start to the season against very good competition. With one more to go Tuesday at home against Simpson, we have a few more things to iron out before we start MIAC play on Saturday. "
UP NEXT
Augsburg hosts Simpson College in a nonconference contest on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 5 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis.
