SPOKANE, Wash.- Augsburg College turned last week's heartbreak into this week's advantage, advancing past host Whitworth University into the second round of the NCAA Division III men's soccer tournament after a penalty kick shootout. The Auggies and Pirates finished tied 1-1 before Augsburg took the shootout 4-2.
Augsburg faced a similar situation last Saturday in the championship of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament and came out on the short end of a 4-2 shootout at Carleton. But the Auggies turned that disappointment into valuable experience on Thursday afternoon, calming making all four of their attempts to prevent Whitworth from moving past the first round for the first time in five NCAA tournament appearances. Augsburg (11-3-7) will now play at the University of Redlands on Sunday afternoon. Augsburg had the first chances on goal, but shots by James See and Nick Anderson were easily saved by Whitworth keeper Jeff Srock. The Pirates then nearly took a 1-0 lead when John Prugh split a pair of defenders, but Auggie keeper Pascaul Venter came out and forced his shot just outside the right post. Whitworth did take a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute. Prugh headed a cross toward the goal before an Auggie defender tried to clear the ball away. But his kick went straight into the head of Whitworth's Elly Bulega and then into the goal. The goal was Bulega's eighth of the season and it was the first goal allowed by Augsburg in 525 minutes of play covering six matches. The Auggies tied the match early in the 61st minute. Prugh saved a ball off of the sideline, but it went straight to Augsburg's David Scheller, who crossed to Nick Anderson at the top of the box. Anderson rifled a perfect shot just inside the left post for his fourth goal of the year. Anderson had a chance to win the match for Augsburg late in reglation, but Whitworth's Ben Rotert chased down his breakaway and blocked the shot as it came off of Anderson's shoe in the 88th minute.
Neither team had a great chance at during the first overtime, but the Pirates controlled play in the second overtime period. Eddy Prugh had a clean shot that went wide right, the a header by Dion Coxe in the 108th minute was saved by Venter. Cameron Bushey and Simon Rekkebo traded the first makes in the shootout. Then John Prugh sent one wide left, followed by a make from Augsburg's Alex Hildebrandt. Venter saved an attempt by Whitworth's Joey Mattina and Lucas Ingram followed with a good attempt. Bulega kept the Pirates alive, but Peter Loyd ended the match in favor of the Auggies with his final attempt. Whitworth finished the match with an 18-9 advantage in shots, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. The Pirates also forced 11 corner kicks to 6 for the Auggies. But Venter and his defense kept Augsburg alive long enough to win the shootout. Whitworth, winners of a second straight Northwest Conference title and fourth in the last five years, finishes the season 14-2-4. Augsburg (11-3-7) will kick off at Redlands at 1:00 p.m. (PST). Photos by Kirk Hirota Go to Athletics Home Page > Men's Soccer > Sports Releases > |
