MINNEAPOLIS — Scoring its most goals against a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent since 1976, the Augsburg University men's soccer team claimed an 8-0 victory over Concordia College-Moorhead on Wednesday at Edor Nelson Field.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 8, Concordia-Moorhead 0
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 3-1-4 overall (2-1-1 MIAC), Concordia 2-4-4 overall (0-2-2 MIAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Augsburg's eight goals were its most scored against an MIAC foe since a 12-0 win over Hamline on Oct. 30, 1976, and the eight goals are believed to be tied for the second-most Augsburg has ever scored against a conference opponent; the Auggies also had an 8-0 victory at Macalester on Sept. 18, 1976.
The Auggies scored four goals in each half and finished with a 28-11 advantage in shots, including 13 shots on goal to the Cobbers' two. The 28 shots and 13 shots on goal were both season highs for the team.
Finnur Mercier and
Andrew Ziebarth combined for the shutout win in goal.
The Auggies turned first-half pressure into a 4-0 halftime advantage, beginning when
Caleb Ibarra scored at 9:36 off assists from
Christopher Plaza Alvarado and
Asher Johnson. Earlier, the Cobbers had two early shots and a corner, but Mercier saved Johan Lizarraga's shot before the Auggies answered with attempts from Plaza Alvarado,
Anson Karn and
Liam Paradiso plus two corners. Paradiso made it 2-0 at 21:51, and
Asher Johnson followed at 28:14 from
Gio Casias. The Auggies added one more at 40:49 when
Given Aboni scored off assists from
Zachariah Sherian and
Asher Christus after a corner-kick sequence, sending the Auggies into halftime ahead 4-0.
After halftime, the Auggies turned a 4-0 lead into an 8-0 final, scoring four times in the second half while keeping the Cobbers off the board. Earlier, the Auggies put pressure on with corners at 45:57 and 48:45 before Plaza Alvarado finished Casias' assist at 49:30 to make it 5-0, and
Asher Johnson added another goal at 56:11 for a 6-0 lead. After Ziebarth saved a Cobbers shot at 63:46, the Auggies followed with more chances, including Ibarra's saved attempt and Paradiso's shot off the right woodwork before Paradiso scored from
Remus Repcak at 66:03 to push the score to 7-0. The Auggies kept creating chances through Aboni,
Noah Pittman, Christus and
Ivan Twinawe, and Aboni finished Christus' assist at 89:24 for the final 8-0 margin.
Johnson finished with two goals and an assist for a team-high five points in his first collegiate career multi-goal game. Paradiso scored twice and led the Auggies with five shots, marking the second time in his last three games that Paradiso scored two goals. Aboni added his first two collegiate goals on four shots and put a team-high three attempts on goal. Ibarra scored the team's first goal and put both of his shots on frame.
Twenty-four different Auggies saw playing time in the contest.
QUOTES FROM AUGSBURG COACH GREG HOLKER
"For the first 15 minutes, we were pretty concerned about how the game was going to turn out. We were a bit naive and they were outworking us, winning first and second balls. Then we scored, and everything changed because we kept scoring."
"These types of nights are important because it gives our bench a chance to get some valuable minutes, it takes some weight off of the first group, and keeps us healthier overall. It was really good for
Given Aboni to record a brace tonight off the bench, scoring his first collegiate goals.
Asher Christus banked two more assists on his young career from right back, and I thought
Kruz Gabel and
Samson Gyasi were vital with their control of the game with the ball in their moments tonight."
"Meanwhile,
Liam Paradiso just keeps finding the goal with another brace.
Asher Johnson has come alive recently with goal contributions.
Caleb Ibarra finally scored his first goal of the season, a game-winner, and Gio had a pair of assists. We had a good balance between the first group and the second group on the scoresheet tonight."
"Now, we have to head down to St. Peter and play a very good Gustavus team fresh off a last-minute winner at Macalester tonight. That's a tough place to play -- a big, gorgeous field -- and a great, experienced Gustavus team awaits us Saturday."
UP NEXT
The Auggies travel to St. Peter, Minn., to face Gustavus Adolphus College in MIAC play on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
