The Gustavus men’s soccer team improved to 8-1-1 on the season with hard-fought wins over St. Olaf (1-0) and Luther (2-1, 2OT) this weekend. Mike Butterworth (Jr., Katy, Tex./Robert Service, Anchorage, Alaska) scored the game-winner in the 6oth minute at St. Olaf on Saturday and then Alex Groth (Sr., Waupaca, Wis.) scored the game-winner at Luther on Sunday when he scored an unassisted goal in the 105th minute.
Against St. Olaf, Gustavus tallied the only goal of the game when Mike Butterworth scored his second goal of the season in the 60th minute. Jack Underwood (Jr., Fergus Falls, Minn.) was credited with the assist. The match was very tightly contested with the Gusties holding a slight edge in shots (12-9) and corner kicks (4-3).
Tyler Garry (Sr., Sioux Falls, So. Dak.) made three saves and picked up his fifth shutout of the season for Gustavus. Eric Smith made five saves for St. Olaf.
On Sunday, Luther jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Kyle Nelson scored in the 69th minute. The goal marked only the second time this season that Gustavus has trailed in a game. Luther’s lead would not stand long, however as Matt Broin (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn./Robbinsdale) scored on a penalty kick in the 74th minute to tie the score at 1-1.
Regulation play would end with the score tied 1-1. The Gusties controlled play for much of the first 90 minutes outshooting the Norse 10-5, and holding an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks.
In the first overtime, Gustavus would outshoot Luther 4-2, but the Gusties could not get the ball past Norse goalkeeper Leif Madsen.
In the second overtime, the Gusties continued to have the better of the play, outshooting Luther 4-0, before Alex Groth scored the game-winner and ended the match with an unassisted goal in the 105th minute.
Tyler Garry picked up the win in the nets, allowing one goal and recording four saves.
The Gusties will now get four days to rest before facing Macalester College in St. Paul on Friday at 7:30 pm. The key MIAC contest will pit the 4-1-0 Gusties against the 3-0-0 Scots (Macalester will face St. Thomas on Tuesday before matching up against Gustavus on Friday).