ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s soccer team secured the No. 3 seed in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoffs and is set to host No. 6 Augsburg at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the opening round. The Gusties enter the game with a 7-8-1 overall record and finished 6-3-1 in the MIAC, while Augsburg is 7-9-2 overall and went 4-4-2 league play.
Live online coverage of Tuesday’s game begins at 1:50 p.m.
GUSTAVUS MEN’S SOCCER PAGE | AUGSBURG MEN’S SOCCER PAGE
Regular season result…
Gustavus improved its all-time record against Augsburg to 39-17-6 after stealing a 2-1 overtime victory on Oct. 8 in Minneapolis. In the regular season meeting, Gustavus struck first in the 34th minute as Luke Laurich (Fy., Batavia, Ill.) scored on a header as a result of a long free kick by Cody Billins (Fy., Farmington, Minn.). After the first 45 minutes of play, the Gusties led 1-0. The Auggies netted the equalizer in the 61st minute on a header goal of their own off a corner kick. The Gusties had four shot opportunities after the Augsburg goal, but couldn’t find the back of the net and the game went into overtime. It didn’t take long into the extra period for the Gusties to end it as Arthur Parens (So., Wayzata, Minn.) scored the game-winner 1:31 into the overtime on an assist from Matt Murakami (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.).
Gusties in the playoffs…
The MIAC Men’s Soccer Playoffs began in 2003 and since then Gustavus has made 11 appearances with a record of 11-5, including six championships. The Gusties return to the league playoffs today after not qualifying last year. Gustavus’s last appearance in the MIAC postseason was 2014 when it defeated Carleton 1-0 and Saint John’s 2-0 for the title. Augsburg has made four MIAC playoff appearances with a record of 3-3. Gustavus and Augsburg have met twice in the league playoffs (2006, 08) and have split those games – Gustavus 1-0 in 2006 and Augsburg 3-0 in 2008.
Gustie leaders…
After playing in all 16 games this season, Murakami leads the Gusties with six goals and three assists for 15 points, including two game-winning goals. He also has taken the most shots at 28 with a .214 shot percentage. Patrick Roth (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) ranks second on the team with 11 points on five goals and one assist. Goalkeeper Matt Bateman (So., Savage, Minn.) has been solid in conference play this season with four shutouts (2nd/MIAC), a .906 save percentage (2nd/MIAC), and a 0.53 goals against average (3rd/MIAC).
For the foes…
Augsburg finished the regular season with 2-1 win against St. Olaf and a 2-0 shutout at previously unbeaten No. 6-ranked St. Thomas. Lionel Vang was the hero for the Auggies against the Tommies by scoring both goals within three minutes of each other. Vang ranks third in the MIAC with seven goals and fourth with 16 points. Goalkeeper Tommy Molski has played in eight games with a 3-4-1 record, 1.17 goals against average and .757 save percentage.