SAINT PETER, Minn. - After an early lead, the Gusties gave up three unanswered goals and were unable to respond, dropping a non-conference matchup to No. 25 Luther.
Gustavus got going early in the game, taking four shots the first 15 minutes and the fourth was a goal from senior
Joe Flory (Whitchurch, England), blasting a cross into the top of the netting from five yards away. A cross was played from the right side by senior
Diego Paulin (Iporã, Paraná, Brazil) and found junior
Easton Hoch (Victoria, Minn.) near the end line, who played it back across goal. Senior
Sam Kaeding (Waconia, Minn.) left the ball for Flory, who calmly but strongly sent the ball into the back of the net. 11 minutes later, the Norse responded with a goal of their own. A shot from outside the penalty area took an unfortunate deflection and wrongfooted goalkeeper
Jackson Baker (Excelsior, Minn.) to tie the game. Neither team would find the edge in the last 20 minutes of the half. Gustavus had the only shot on goal of the half that forced a save, but each team had eight shots each overall.Â
Three minutes proved to be the difference in the second half, with Luther striking twice. The Norse only had three shots on goal total in the last 45, two of which found the back of the net. The Gusties had five corner kicks, but only two shots on goal, struggling to find anything significant.Â
Overall, each team mustered up four shots on goal total, with the Gusties fouling the Norse six times compared to the five fouls against Luther. Individually, sophomore
Kieran Mahan (Wayzata, Minn.) led the team with two shots on goal while Flory and senior
Leo Runestad (Northfield, Minn.) each registered one as well. Mahan and senior
Simon Woods (Sioux Falls, S.D.) both played the full 90 minutes.Â
The non-conference road leads to Lake Forest on Tuesday, with the Gusties taking on the Foresters at 4:30 p.m. in Illinois.Â
Â
