BOX SCORE SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana once again played stellar defense, but couldn't find the net in their fourth straight 1-0 loss, this time in double overtime to Upper Iowa on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings drop to 4-10-2 overall and 3-8-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition and the Peacocks improve to 13-2-1 overall, 10-2-1 NSIC.
The Vikings were out-shot 24-15, 8-5 one goal, and have now lost five straight one-goal games, four by a score of 1-0.
Ashley Limmer made three big saves in the first period to keep the game at a 0-0 tie. The Peacocks fired off 12 shots, three on goal, while Augustana only took five with two on frame.
A lineup change injected some life into the Vikings' offense early in the game, but Upper Iowa's relentless attack gave the Peacocks most of the possession in the first period.
Limmer again was the rock that kept Augustana in the game. She made a couple diving saves in the second half and a full extension deflection in the 89
th minute to keep the Vikings' hopes alive.
Upper Iowa piled on the shots and finished with 21 to the Vikings' 12 at the end of regulation. The game also turned more physical with both teams pressing towards the end of regulation and the foul count began to rise.
The first overtime period did not contain much action and in the second, the Peacock attack proved to be too strong. A through ball landed at the feet of an Upper Iowa forward and
Liz Bunkers could only foul her just outside the penalty box to keep her from scoring. On the ensuing free kick, the ball deflected off an Upper Iowa player in the free kick wall in front of the goal and trickled out to a Peacock defender who launched the ball toward the goal from over 30 yards away and it found the net in the top right corner, just out of Limmer's reach.
Limmer finished with seven saves while
Maren Werth led the Augustana offensive charge with a career-high eight shots.
The Vikings now have a Friday night showdown with Southwest Minnesota State on Friday at 7 p.m. in Marshall, Minn.
