The Gustavus men’s soccer team wrapped up a successful weekend at home with a convincing 5-1 win over Marian College of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon. Balanced scoring was again a key for the Gusties as four different players found the net including Ben Eriksson, Stefan Kolis, Ben Ikeda, and Max Malmquist. Gustavus, which is now 3-1 on the season, will open MIAC play next Sunday at Concordia-Moorhead.
The Gusties jumped out to an early lead when Ben Eriksson scored a picture perfect goal off a beautiful pass from Brett VanderStreek in the seventh minute. VanderStreek aggressively took the ball up the left side of the field and lofted a long cross to Eriksson who had slipped behind the Sabre defense. The senior forward one touched the ball into an open net giving the Gusties a 1-0 lead. Twelve minutes later, Stefan Kolis extended the lead to 2-0 when he scooped up a rebound about eight yards in front of the net and drove a shot into the back of the goal in the 19th minute.
Gustavus doubled its lead to 4-0 in a four minute period late in the first half. Ben Ikeda made the score 3-0 in the 33rd minute after receiving a long cross from Chris Golv which he controlled with one touch and then placed into the upper right corner of the net. Max Malmquist made the score 4-0 when he registered his first goal of the season in the 36th minute. Malmquist sent a long, arching shot to the goal from 25 yards out that slipped just over the goalkeeper’s hands and just under the crossbar. The Gusties led 4-0 at the intermission.
Marian cut the lead to 4-1 early in the second half when Sabre midfielder Brad Konen broke past the Gustie defense and sent a ball on net that goalkeeper Luke Strom got a touch on but could not stop the ball from rolling across the goal line.
Gustavus saw its lead increase to 5-1 in the 74th minute when Chris Golv sent a cross through the box right toward the near post. The ball slipped over the head of a Gustie player and a Marian player attempted to head the ball out of play, however the ball deflected directly into the Sabre goal for an own goal.
The Gusties controlled play through most of the match and outshot the Sabres 17-3, while also holding a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Luke Strom started in goal for Gustavus and played 62 minutes allowing one goal and making one save. Steve Lundberg played the final 28 minutes in goal. He did not face a shot on goal.
Nick Henkemeyer played all 90 minutes in goal for Marian. He allowed five goals while being credited with five saves.
The victory was the 300th of Head Coach Larry Zelenz’s 29-year collegiate coaching career. Zelenz compiled a record of 39-47-8 in six years at Gettysburg College before coming to Gustavus where he has compiled a mark of 258-103-40 in the past 23 seasons. Zelenz’s career collegiate coaching record is now 300-152-48 for a winning percentage of .648. Ironically, Zelenz’s 300th win came in the 500th game of his coaching career.