SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s soccer team traveled to Hamline on Tuesday afternoon for a conference match against the Pipers. The nationally ranked Gusties took a 4-1 win and move to 13-4 overall and a 7-2 mark in the MIAC.
“Hamline is a tough place to go,” said Head Coach Tudor Flintham. “They are really well coached, disciplined defensively, and just do a great job of killing space between lines. They’ve not always got results but they play everyone close.”
Gustavus got the scoring going when Matthew Gibbons (Sr., Minneapolis) scored, toe poking it into the bottom right corner with Owen Johnson (Fy., Apple Valley) being credited with the assist at the 9:30 mark.
With thirteen minutes remaining the Pipers scored an equalizer. The Gusties ended the first half outshooting Hamline 10-5, and each team having two on net.
“While we definitely should have been cleaner in our build, we honestly started pretty well and scored the early goal, and had a handful of beautiful looks to make it 2 or 3. So when they score an absolute rocket from distance with their first shot… that was definitely a gut punch. But again we got through a bad moment and saw a really positive reaction in the second half. We have things we absolutely need to clean up, but I’m definitely happy with the second half response.”
Gustavus had an exhilarating second half. Ten minutes in, Finn Dowling (Fy., Chaska) scored at the back post off of a Gibbons free kick. Gibbons etched his name in the record book as the assist proved to the 39th in his career, breaking the previous record held by Larry Shelhamer (1972-75) with 38.
“Matthew Gibbons breaking the all time assist record is also a really cool moment. At a program like this, with our history, that’s an amazing accomplishment. I know he really wanted to break it at home but I’m not sure he’ll care too much when he looks back at what is and will be an incredible career. We think he’s got a few more to add still but for now we’ll celebrate an important win and a special young man who deserves this honor.”
At the 64th minute Johnson dribbled past the Pipers and Gibbons smashed it into an open net adding on his second goal of the match.
With thirteen minutes left Scott Heinen (Sr., Aurora, Ill.) sent in a corner kick that dropped in front of Jared Hecht (Fy., Apple Valley) who tapped it into the left side notching his second of the season in the fourth and final Gustavus goal.
Wesley Sanders (So., Urbandale, Iowa) was earned the win, making three saves and allowing one goal.
The Gusties are next in action when they host Macalester on Saturday for their final conference match of the regular season with a 12:30 kick-off.