Jeff Aasness battles an opponent while clearing the ball
Neil Nelson sets up for the game-winning header
Bobby Kroog wins the ball from an Ole defender
Jon Astry plants prior to a serve
The Gustavus men’s soccer team put two goals on the board in a span of ten minutes in the first half and held on to defeat St. Olaf 2-0 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tilt on Saturday in St. Peter. The Gusties played a man down for the last 30 minutes of the match after receiving a red card.
Junior Neil Nelson (Edina, Minn.) got the Gusties on the board first with a header in the 24th minute that sailed just over the outstretched hands of Ole keeper Eric Smith and landed in the net. The goal, which proved to be the game-winner, was Nelson’s first of the season. Sophomore Sam Barthell (Bloomington, Minn.) was credited with an assist on the play.
Just ten minutes later, Gustavus found the net again. Following a serve deep into the offensive half of the field by Bobby Kroog, junior Matt Broin (Minnetonka, Minn.) dribbled toward the corner and fired a hard cross toward junior Alex Groth (Waupaca, Wis.) in front of the net and Groth sent the one-timer into the net, squeezing just inside the left post. Groth’s fourth tally of the year gave the Gusties a 2-0 lead.
Gustie keeper Tyler Garry (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) played solidly in net, picking up eight saves and his second shut-out of the season. He moved his individual record in net to 5-0-0.
Gustavus, which moved its unbeaten streak to seven games with the win, improves to 6-1-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the MIAC, while St. Olaf falls to 5-6-0 overall, 3-2-0 in the MIAC.
The Gusties step outside of the MIAC on Sunday, taking on Luther in St. Peter. Gustavus will return to league play October 8 when they host Macalester.
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