SAINT PETER, Minn. - The Gustavus men's soccer team found goals from three different players today as the Gusties topped UW-Stevens Point, 3-1.
Jacob Walker found the first directly from a corner kick,
Kieran Mahan scored off a header, and
Joe Flory scored with 30 seconds left to seal the deal.
In the first ever meeting between the two programs, Gustavus (3-2-1, 1-0-0 MIAC) took the upper hand over the WIAC competitor, UW-Stevens Point (3-4-0, 0-0-0 WIAC). The Gusties dominated statistically, leading 21-6 in shots, 10-2 in shots on goal, and 8-5 in corners. Junior
Jacob Walker (Chicago, Ill.) scored his first goal in a Gustie uniform while senior
Joe Flory (Whitchurch, England) and sophomore
Kieran Mahan (Wayzata, Minn.) continued their tally on the season and career. Transferring from North Carolina Wesleyan, junior
Jacob Westermark (Sundbyberg, Sweden) made his first career start between the pipes.
After a crossing attempt from Flory earned a corner kick, Walker decided he didn't need anyone else, scoring directly. Walker used a slight wind in his favor to curl the ball toward the back post and over the goalkeeper's head, finding the far side twine to take the lead. Just 14 minutes later, Mahan scored his goal to double the lead in the 37th minute. After senior
Simon Woods (Sioux Falls, S.D.) won a tackle, he played the ball to Flory, who found junior
Easton Hoch (Victoria, Minn.) on the far touchline. Hoch took two touches to settle the ball and crossed the ball back across, finding Mahan's head with no contest from any Pointers. Through the first 45 minutes, Gustavus led 10-3 in shots, 4-1 on goal, and just 2-1 on corners.
The second half did not start clean for the Gusties, who gave up their one goal of the day just 6:25 in. A corner kick was once again the vessel for a goal, when the Pointers found a man on the back post who was able to head the ball home to cut the lead in half. The next 38 minutes were contested throughout the field, but the Gustavus back line was able to keep UW-Stevens Point without a shot on goal, keeping Westermark safe. The Gusties, though, had four shots on goal themselves, providing pressure as the time winded down. The pressure finally broke with just 38 seconds left, when Mahan picked up the ball after senior
Darren Chukel (Hudson, Wis.) was fouled. Mahan found Flory who had run past his mark and the senior did what does best and scored. Flory walked into the penalty area and blasted a shot between the Pointer goalkeeper's legs to seal the win.
For Flory, it marked his third straight game with a goal and seventh all-time with both a goal and an assist. For Mahan, it was his first goal since his hat-trick against UW-Superior and the sixth multi-point performance of his young career. Flor led with three shots on goal with six shots taken total, followed closely behind by Chukel with five shots. Woods, senior
Max Just (Lakeville, Minn.), and junior
Evan Afdahl (Eden Prairie, Minn.) all played the full 90 minutes.
In all but two statistical categories, the game was a team-high for Gustavus with 10 points, three goals, four assists, 21 shots, 10 shots on goal, and eight corner kicks.
The Gusties return to MIAC play by hosting Bethel at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Gustie Soccer Field.
