MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — After back-to-back nonconference games, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's soccer team returns to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Friday, heading to Augsburg's Edor Nelson Field for a 7:30 p.m. matchup against the Auggies.
 
The Matchup:
• Saint Mary's Cardinals (0-2-0 MIAC * 4-4-0 Overall) at Augsburg Auggies (1-0-0 MIAC * 5-2-0 Overall)
 
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• Live Stats * Live Video
 
Last Action:
• Saint Mary's—September 20, 2017 * Chicago, Ill.: The Cardinals surrendered a goal with less than two minutes remaining in the second overtime in dropping a 2-1 nonconference decision to Illinois Institute of Technology | Recap
• Augsburg—September 16, 2017 * Arden Hills, Minn.: Taylor Sullivan scored with 2:23 remaining in regulation, lifting the Auggies to a 2-1 win over Bethel in the teams' MIAC opener | Recap
 
Saint Mary's vs. Augsburg—Their Last Meeting:
• September 14, 2016 * Minneapolis, Minn.: Augsburg erupted for three goals in the game's opening 45 minutes, and never looked back in handing the Cardinals a 5-1 conference setback at Edor Nelson Field | Recap
 
Up Next:
• Saint Mary's: The Cardinals return home to Ochrymowycz Field on Tuesday, entertaining Bethel in a 4 p.m. MIAC matchup.
• Augsburg: The Auggies hit the road on Tuesday, heading to Collegeville, Minn., for a 4 p.m. conference showdown with Saint John's.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2017 Roster | 2017 Statistics | 2017 Schedule
• Friday's game against Augsburg is the second of back-to-back road games for the Cardinals, who have played six of their first eight games on their home turf. … Three of the Cardinals' four losses—including Wednesday's nonconference setback against Illinois Institute of Technology—have been decided by 2-1 decisions. All told, five of Saint Mary's first eight games have been decided by 2-1 decisions. The Cardinals have also beaten Viterbo and Nebraska Wesleyan by 2-1 counts. … Two of the Cardinals' three 2-1 setbacks have come in overtime. Saint Mary's played in six overtime games a year ago, going 1-4-1. … Saint Mary's 2-1 loss to St. Thomas on Sept. 12 snapped the Cardinals' season-opening four-game winning streak. … The Cardinals had started the season 4-0-0 for the first time since opening the 1986 season with four straight wins. It was also the Cardinals' first four-game winning streak since early in the 2000 season. … Robbie Sobczak (Cloquet, Minn.) scored the Cardinals' goal against IIT Wednesday. It was his second of the season, and was assisted by Chris Beiersdorf (Arlington Heights, Ill.). … Sean Butcher (Cave Creek, Ariz.) heads into Friday's showdown at Augsburg leading the team in all three offensive categories—goals (4), assists (3), and points (11). … Butcher has recorded at least one point in five of the Cardinals' eight games this season—including his first collegiate two-goal game against Crown and his first two-assist contest against Viterbo. … Charles Reit (Arcadia, Wis.) netted his first collegiate goal with a first-half tally against Viterbo on Sept. 6. … Kyle Lichttenegger (DePere, Wis.) notched his first two-goal game in a Cardinal uniform vs. Crown on Sept. 1. … The two goals by both Butcher and Lichttenegger vs. Crown on Sept. 1 mark the first time a Cardinal has netted two goals in a game since 2015, when Saint Mary's had three players score twice in a game. … Saint Mary's had not had two players posted multiple-goal games since Matt Graber, Nate Vandegrift, and Midhat Mujic all scored twice against Presentation on Sept. 1, 2013. … Butcher's second goal against Crown on Sept. 1 was on a penalty kick. The Cardinal senior has now netted Saint Mary's last two PKs, having converted the lone penalty kick last season against Hamline on Oct. 8. … Nate Levy (Byron, Minn.) and Alberto Centeno (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) have shared the goalkeeping duties this season. Levy—who finished with a season-high six saves against St. Thomas on Sept. 12—is 2-2-0 with a 1.25 goals-against-average, while Centeno—who posted a season-high six saves against North Park on Sept. 17—is 2-2-0 with a 2.62 GAA in four starts. … Levy and Jimmy Perreault (Batavia, Ill.) did not have to make a save in shutting out Crown on Sept. 1. … Levy has recorded 10 or more saves in a game three times in his career—including a career-high 13 saves against Carleton on Oct. 29. … Levy recorded three shutouts last season and has posted five shutouts in his collegiate career. … Saint Mary's 2-1 loss to St. Olaf on Sept. 16 marked the second straight year in which the Oles beat the Cardinals in overtime—owning a 1-0 overtime win a year ago. … With their 6-0 win over Crown, the Cardinals have posted three wins in which they did not allow a shot on goal over the past two seasons. Saint Mary's did not allow a shot on goal in a pair of 3-0 wins last season—first against Bethany Lutheran on Sept. 7 and then against UM-Morris on Oct. 26. … All six of Saint Mary's goals against Crown on Sept. 1 came in the second half. … With their 6-0 win over Crown on Sept. 1, the Cardinals have now won their season opener in each of the last three seasons. … Saint Mary's victory over Crown on Sept. 1 was the first collegiate coaching win for the Cardinals' Corbin Bowers. … Saint Mary's six goals against Crown on Sept. 1 were the most since the Cardinals netted seven in a 7-0 win over Cornell on Sept. 4, 2015.
 
Scouting The Augsburg Auggies:
2017 Roster | 2017 Statistics | 2017 Schedule
• Beginning with Friday's game against Saint Mary's, the Auggies play three of their next four games on their home turf. The Auggies are 1-2-0 at Edor Nelson Field, while going a perfect 4-0-0 on the road this season. … Last Saturday's win over Bethel was the Auggies' second straight 2-1 victory—Augsburg beat UW-Superior by the same count on Sept. 12. … Augsburg's first seven games have been a rollercoaster ride—the Auggies opened the season with three straight wins, followed by back-to-back losses, and now two consecutive 2-1 wins. … Augsburg has outscored its opponents 10-3 in its five wins, while being outscored 9-4 in its two losses. … Lionel Vang heads into Friday's matchup with Saint Mary's leading the team in goals with three—one more than Luke Falk, Tommy Picka, and Aidan Sim-Campos. … Vang also leads the team in points with seven, while Sim-Campos boasts a team-high three assists. … Both of Falk's goals this season have been game-winners. … The Auggies have used three goalkeepers this season, led by Garrett Kaelin, who has posted a 1.71 goals-against-average and .714 save percentage in 315 minutes. Tommy Molski owns a 2.00 GAA and .500 save percentage in 225 minutes played, while Clark Page has played 90 minutes, stopping three of the four shots he faced. … Augsburg has outscored its opponents 14-12 through seven games—including 9-6 in the second half. … Despite four of their seven games being decided by one goal, the Auggies have yet to play an overtime contest this season.