Augustana inches past Storm

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Kurt Negwer and Alex Bennett scored first half goals for Augustana, which held on to beat Simpson 2-1 on Sunday at Buxton Stadium.

Negwer's first goal of the season gave the Vikings (2-4-1) a 1-0 lead after only two minutes of play. Bennet increased the lead to two after connecting on a left-footed attempt from the top of the box in the 42nd minute. Sean Fidlow got credit for the find.

The Storm (2-4-0) pulled within a goal thanks to a header from Jeremy Reinert (Indianola, Iowa) in the 60th minute. Reinert took a cross from Mark Lahart (Newton, Iowa) on the far post after Lahart's run down the right sideline.

Twice Simpson came within inches of tying the game. Trailing 1-0 in the first half, Lahart rifled a shot off a set piece that glanced off the crossbar. Down 2-1 in the 54th minute, Jim Frizzell (Grimes, Iowa) snuck an offering around oncoming goalkeeper Tyler Cowherd. The attempt missed the far post by inches before going out of bounds.

Cowherd made six saves in goal for the Vikings and Luke Aronow (Ankeny, Iowa) made nine stops for the Storm. Aronow didn't allow a goal in the second half and made a number of diving saves to keep Simpson in the game.

The Storm have little time between games, as Bethel travels to Buxton Stadium for a 7 p.m. match Monday.