NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The Augsburg University men's soccer team was edged 1-0 to the top-ranked team in the country in NCAA Division III, St. Olaf College, in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game on Saturday at Rolf Mellby Field. St. Olaf entered the game ranked No. 1 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III national poll. Saturday's matchup was a meeting of two NCAA Division III national tournament teams from last season. Augsburg reached the national quarterfinals, while St. Olaf reached the national semifinals.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: St. Olaf 1, Augsburg 0
LOCATION: Rolf Mellby Field, Northfield, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 2-1-4 overall (1-1-1 MIAC), St. Olaf 9-0-0 overall (2-0-0 MIAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Auggies finished with a 7-4 advantage in shots and put three shots on goal, but the Oles scored the lone goal early in the second half. The Auggies generated five shots and four corner kicks after halftime while limiting the Oles to three shots on goal for the match.
The Auggies kept the Oles off the scoreboard in a first half that ended 0-0, working through two physical stretches and limited early chances.
Liam Paradiso recorded Augsburg's first shot in the 29th minute, and
Eric Riera added another in the 34th after the Oles had earned a corner kick and a Ryan Wilson shot that went out top right, as the Auggies reached halftime level at 0-0.
The Auggies spent much of the second half chasing the match after Charlie Piller scored from Harry Ross in the 52nd minute to put the Oles ahead 1-0. Earlier,
Finnur Mercier made a save on Jack Soares in the 50th minute, and the Auggies answered the goal with a run of chances that included two Paradiso shots saved by Beckett Carlson and two corner kicks in a 38-second span. The Auggies added another corner in the 69th minute, then absorbed three Oles corners over the next five minutes without another goal conceded. The visitors pushed again late, with Carlson saving
Asher Johnson's shot in the 83rd minute before
Eric Riera and Johnson each missed attempts, but the Auggies could not find the equalizer as the Oles closed out the 1-0 final.
Paradiso led the Auggies with three shots and put two on goal.
Asher Johnson added two shots, including one on frame, while
Eric Riera also recorded two attempts. Goalkeeper Mercier played 90 minutes and finished with two saves.
QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG COACH GREG HOLKER
"That was a tremendous college soccer game. Both teams were sophisticated in their tactics, clean on the ball, and both carried out their plans very well. I thought we created real danger to match their dangerous moments, but in the end they took the one critical moment and that's how tight the margins are. St. Olaf is a fantastic team, deserving of a No. 1 ranking -- and we are close, real close. As long as we keep getting better every day and stay patient, the decisions that lead to goals will improve and we will start securing results."
"
Liam Paradiso was a handful today, and if Beckett doesn't make that unbelievable tip save on him in the second half, we are 1-1. He was impactful from the go, and as he keeps getting more experience, we are going to enjoy watching this guy play."
"
Finnur Mercier may have had some iffy moments with his distribution, but he made the saves to keep us in it early in the second half. The goal conceded came through a screen and dipped late, but he was even close to that one. He's proven to be a real asset, and he's an incredible human being."
"I thought we got really good bench minutes today - the level stayed high with the guys that entered from that role, and that will be important as we get into these double fixture weeks the rest of the way out. We are going to need high level performances from everyone."
"Overall, I am encouraged by our effort and the performance today. We know we are close, and we know that there is a gap that we have to work to close. I can't wait to get back to training ahead of welcoming Nick Zuchowski and his Cobbers on Wednesday night. We've been watching his team all year and they are getting better and better each game, so this will be another great MIAC game."
UP NEXT
The Auggies travel to Northfield, Minn., to face St. Olaf College, the No. 1-ranked team nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Division III poll, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 3:30 p.m.
