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September 27, 2005
Mens soccer falls 2-1; winning streak ends with late game goal
Mens soccer lost hold of their winning streak against the University of Mary. The team hadn’t allowed a single goal this year and had been on a 4-0 run until they were stopped in their tracks in this home game. Hamline’s usual high-scoring offense was unable to make use of their chances, putting only ten of their eighteen shots on goal, and scoring on just one.
This goal came relatively early in the game, as Jacob Helling roared unassisted into the University of Mary backfield, hammering a shot home and giving Hamline a one nothing lead. The two teams matched up evenly throughout the rest of the first half and into the second, jockeying for position as well as possession of the ball. Neither team was able to make use of a scoring chance until the fifty-eighth minute, when Andrew Clement and the Hamline defense allowed their first goal of the season to the University of Mary’s Abdi Jama with an assist from Nanad Todorovic.
The Pipers kept the pressure on with shots and rushes, but each time their opponent seemed to cope and readjust. Hamline tried to use their usual tactic of scoring by committee but just couldn’t punch through the strong defense of their opponent to get good chances. Eight different players took shots for the Pipers, but Helling would prove to be the only one capable of beating the keeper and the defense.
University of Mary goalkeeper, John Edlund, proved to be in fine form, as he stopped Hamline even when his defense broke down enough for Hamline to get a shot on goal. This is to be commended considering the number of Piper players who posed threats on the field. Edlund made eight saves for the evening, while Clement for the Pipers only had four.
The University of Mary took only half as many shots as Hamline, but put six on goal, forcing the Piper defense back and putting Clement under stress in the box. Two of these chances were turned into points against the Pipers.
Hamline’s opponents played a considerably rough game penalty wise, garnering three yellow cards and five fouls, keeping the Pipers on their toes. Hamline themselves had nine fouls, but no yellow cards were given.
The University of Mary’s second goal would come close to the end of the game, at the eighty-one minute mark, when Justin Foss made an unassisted run at the Piper defense. The timing of the goal made it difficult for Hamline to get the equalizer with only nine minutes left to play. With the game on the line, the University of Mary tightened up in the backfield and kept Hamline under wraps just long enough to get the win.
Hamline droped to 4-1 for the season. Happily, the University of Mary is not in the MIAC. While the loss still hurts, it won’t count against Hamline in their playoff run.
The Pipers were scheduled to play Augsburg College last Wednesday, but the game was postponed due to severe weather. Hamline now remains five teams in the MIAC to play only one conference game, yet is still placed at a firm fifth on the table. Their coming schedule is by no means easy, so if the Pipers want a shot at the MIAC title, they’ll have to make their goal-scoring chances count more often than they did against the University of Mary.
-Hamline Sports Information Department contributed to this article
Posted by msveum at September 27, 2005 12:13 PM
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