MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's soccer team suffered a 2-0 loss at Augsburg Friday evening at Edor Nelson Field, a setback as the Saints continue their pursuit of a MIAC playoff berth.
The Saints dropped to 7-7 overall and 4-3 in conference play, while Augsburg improved to 4-2-7 overall and 3-2-3 in the MIAC. CSS remains in the postseason hunt with three conference matches remaining.
Augsburg opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Liam Paradiso finished an assist from Christopher Plaza Alvarado. The Auggies were also reduced to 10 players at the 11:14 mark when Cole Pettit received a red card, giving St. Scholastica a man advantage for most of the match.
The Saints were unable to find an equalizer before halftime. Lanji Atanga (Minneapolis, MN/) put a shot on target in the 29th minute, but Augsburg goalkeeper Finnur Mercier made the save. Afonso Silva (Lisbon, Portugal/) recorded three first-half saves to keep CSS within a goal at the break.
St. Scholastica generated more opportunities in the second half, outshooting Augsburg 7-6 over the final 45 minutes. Parker Chastey (Duluth, MN/Denfeld HS) tested Mercier in the 53rd minute, but the Auggies doubled their lead just 29 seconds later when Gio Casias scored off an assist from Paradiso at 52:31.
Michael Nuqui (Wellingborough, England/) and Vasco Carneiro (Lisbon, Portugal/) each added shots on goal as CSS looked to respond, but Mercier stopped all four shots he faced to preserve the shutout.
Chastey led the Saints with three shots, while Niklas Haag (Memmingen, Germany) and Carneiro added two apiece. Silva finished with five saves. Augsburg held a 14-11 advantage in shots, including a 7-4 edge in shots on goal, and led 5-3 in corner kicks. CSS finished with 10 players after Alexander Estrada-Cortez (Richfield, MN/Richfield HS) received a red card with 32 seconds remaining.
The result leaves St. Scholastica level with Carleton and Augsburg on 12 conference points as teams compete for six MIAC playoff spots. The Saints' remaining conference opponents are Gustavus Adolphus, Concordia-Moorhead and Saint John's.
St. Scholastica returns home Sunday, Oct. 18, to host Minnesota Morris in a nonconference match at 3 p.m. at Kenny Harkins Field. The Saints resume MIAC play at home against Gustavus Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m.
