The Gustavus men’s soccer team opened its 2003 season with impressive wins over Nebraska Wesleyan 3-2 and Buena Vista 4-0. Both games were played at Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Coach Larry Zelenz’s squad opened with a 3-2 win over Nebraska Wesleyan on Friday. The Prairie Wolves entered the game ranked #3 in the West Region, while the Gusties were unranked. Sophomore midfielder Bobby Kroog opened the scoring as headed in a corner kick from senior midfielder Scott Storlie at 34:24 of the first half. The Gusties extended their lead to 2-0 when Caleb Bousu beat the Prairie Wolves goalkeeper with a header early in the second half. Nebraska Wesleyan charged back to tie the game at 2-2, before sophomore midfielder Jordan Iblings rocketed a shot into the net from 40 yards out late in regulation play to give Gustavus the 3-2 win. Junior goalkeeper Nate Hitch picked up the win in the nets.
On Saturday, Gustavus improved its record to 2-0 with an impressive 4-0 win over Buena Vista University on the Nebraska Wesleyan campus. Bobby Kroog exploded for three goals in just 12 minutes midway through the first half to give the Gusties an early 3-0 lead. First year forward Neil Nelson tallied his first collegiate goal to extend the lead to 4-0 early in the second half. Junior goalkeeper Andrew Moulton picked up the shutout in the nets for the Gusties.