MINNEAPOLIS – “Sixth place never felt so good” for coach Jon Lowery and the St. Thomas men’s soccer team.
Forward Shae Bottum’s pair of goals led the Tommies to a 4-1 win over Augsburg Friday night at Edor Nelson Field and sent the Tommies to the MIAC playoffs for the sixth time in eight seasons.
St. Thomas (10-6-1 overall, 5-4-1 MIAC) entered Friday’s game needing either a win or a tie to stave off Augsburg (6-10-2 overall, 3-6-1 MIAC) and clinch the sixth and final playoff spot. Though Lowery was relieved to clinch a postseason berth, he said the Tommies refused to squeak into the tournament.
“We did not come here to tie. We came here to win and win in the way that we did,” Lowery said. “(This was) a really opportune moment to gain momentum. Not just get in the playoffs but gain some momentum as you go into them. We’ll go in as the sixth seed, but I think we’re a pretty darn good sixth seed.”
Right from the opening kickoff, St. Thomas displayed an urgency that kept the Auggies on their heels. Forward Matt Bouche scored just over two minutes into the game on an assist from Bottum, the fourth time this season the Tommies have struck within the game’s first three minutes.
St. Thomas had periods of sustained possession in the game and tested Augsburg goalkeeper Nick Lenertz with a steady barrage of shots throughout, outshooting the Auggies 18-15. But while the Auggies only put four of their chances on net, the Tommies sent eight on target.
“I think we played great, especially in the midfield,” goalkeeper Grant Larson said. “I think we really controlled possession of the ball, especially since that’s what they tried to do.”
The Tommies extended their lead on a clean strike from Bottum in the 21st minute.
“It was one of those chances that was too easy, so I had to be really careful with it,” Bottum said. “He was showing me that (left side) so I just chose left side and went there.”
Much like the first half, St. Thomas struck quickly after play commenced. Forward Pierce Erickson’s seventh goal of the season came just over four minutes into the start of the half on assists from defender Mark Heydt and midfielder Zack Fennessy.
Sensing their season was nearing a close, the Auggies picked up their play and threatened to draw close. That is, until Bottum put the game out of reach with a goal in the 73rd minute, effectively sealing the Tommie win and a chance to extend the season.
It was a season that started with so much promise – St. Thomas began the 2015 campaign 7-2 – but seemed on the brink a few weeks ago. The Tommies began October by dropping three straight matches and headed into back-to-back games against MIAC power St. Olaf and No. 14-ranked Loras College (Iowa). St. Thomas earned 2-1 wins over both teams, a stretch Larson credited for turning his team’s fortunes.
“It was an important win at St. Olaf … (then) we beat Loras at home, which was the 14th-ranked team in the country at the time,” Larson said. “That really got the hot streak back up and got the morale back up.”
Lowery said his team can’t dwell on its run to the postseason for too long though.
“The regular season got away from us. We learned some really good lessons and we dug deep at the end to come to a difficult place and get a result,” Lowery said. “We’re in. We’re one of six, and now we have some more work to do on Tuesday.”
St. Thomas will travel to face the third seeded team, yet to be determined, in the MIAC quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Tom Pitzen can be reached at pitz2014@stthomas.edu.