BOX SCORE SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In what turned out to be a must-win game for Augustana soccer on a very windy Sunday, the Vikings got the signature win they have been looking for all season with a 1-0 shutout win of No.19 Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The win put Augustana's record at 10-7-1 (8-6-1 NSIC). The Mustangs dropped to (14-2-2, 11-2-2 NSIC) with the loss.
With the win, the Vikings qualified for the NSIC tournament for the first time since 2011. The game took on a win-or-go-home feel to it as the afternoon progressed, with Minot State leading its match against MSU Moorhead and St. Cloud also leading its match against Bemidji State, meaning the Vikings had to win or tie against Southwest Minnesota State in order to keep their season alive. Augustana did just that, refusing to back down against one of the best defensive teams in the conference on Senior Day at Morstad Field.
"I think all around the field, we knew we had to win or we would be done. I think all the underclassmen played for the seniors, especially since it was Senior Day at Morstad Field. We went back to the win-the-half mentaility, which is something we hadn't done the last few games." senior
Katie Hurd said.
The Mustangs came into the match with the second-lowest goals against average in the NSIC of 0.51, along with the second-most shutouts in the conference with 10, but it was Augustana who would dictate the pace and possession of the game.
The first half of action saw a defensive battle as each team kept to its game plan and wouldn't allow the other to capitalize on a scoring chance.
Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard, resulting in a 0-0 tie at the half.
The Vikings outshot Southwest Minnesota State eight to two in the first 45 minutes of regulation.
The second half saw the physicality pick up by both teams, each realizing what was at stake for themselves – a win giving Augustana a postseason berth, and a loss costing the Mustangs home-field advantage in the first round.
Payton Pry would break the tie and score the lone goal in the 83rd minute of regulation. Pry got her fourth goal of the 2013 – tying a career high on the play. The Lawton, Iowa native put in the game winner from two yards out.
Maren Werth, her second assist in as many games, and
Emily Hanneman – first collegiate point- were credited with the assist.
The Vikings were able to hold on for the final seven minutes and notched their biggest win of the year. When asked what the seniors' mindset was going into the contest, Hurd replied, "As a collective group we weren't ready to be done, and we had unconditional support from our underclassmen as well, and they proved it by leaving everything they had on the field today. This (Morstad Field) has a special meaning to us, and we didn't want the last game we ever play here to be a loss. We wanted to go out with a win here." That they did, finishing the 2013 year with a home record of 6-1, a .857 winning percentage, best for a Viking team at home in team history.
"It was great to get two wins going into the postseason and get some momentum for us. Beating the 19th-ranked team in the nation showed that we can play with anyone in the country." The Grenta, Neb native would later say about building some momentum heading into the tournament.
For the match, Augustana outshot Southwest Minnesota State 11-8. Werth led the Vikings with four shots, while Pry had three shots. Goalkeeper
Ashley Limmer earned her third shutout of the year in the win, stopping two shots on goal in the process.
The win sets up the Augustana for a rematch against Winona State (14-2-2, 13-2 NSIC) in Winona, Minn. on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Vikings lost 3-1 just a week ago to the Warriors.
When asked what needs to be done differently this time around, Hurd answered, "We need to have a win-or-go-home mentatilty for this game and leave it all on the field. That needs to be done by approaching this match with strong practices and a better understanding of what (Winona State) did last time and what we need to do this time out against them. We just need to play our game, and make them adjust to us."
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