Balanced Storm attack proves too much for Augustana

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson men's soccer team used goals from three different players to secure a 3-1 win over Augustana (Ill.) on Friday, keeping head coach Rick Isaacson's record in season-openers flawless in the process.

Brendan Owings converted a penalty kick with 1 second left in the first half and forwards Tanner Alderson and Darius Doswell added insurance goals in the second half as the Storm (1-0) improved to 8-0 in season-openers under Isaacson.

The Vikings (0-1) got a goal from Jack McKearnan late in the second half but it wasn't enough against a Simpson team that wore down Augustana over the course of the contest.

Simpson outshot Augustana 11-9 and held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. Jake Potratz made two saves in goal to get the win.

Owings drew a foul in the penalty box as the final seconds ticked off the clock in the first half before converting the PK. Alderson made it 2-0 when he beat the last defender on the right wing and dribbled around goalkeeper Jeremy Klaber in the 66th minute. Doswell struck less than three minutes later, chipping a soft shot over the keeper to give the Storm a comfortable 3-0 advantage.

Enrique Idehen assisted on both second-half goals for the Storm.

Quotes from coach Isaacson
"I was pleased with the effort and energy we put forth tonight. We are far from a finished product at this point in time but we did some nice things in this match that can be built upon.

"We are still in the process of immersing our new players into the grup. We are creating our identity as a team with each opportunity to play. Several first-year players got their feet wet tonight. That's an important step in the process. We expect our young players to get better with each game, and I think you'll see that when we take the field again against Bethel on Monday."

Notes
- Tanner Alderson now has 27 career goals, moving him into a tie for ninth on Simpson's all-time list with Brandon Volz (2000-03).
- After a year away from the program, Darius Doswell picked up where he left off after his sophomore season in 2016. Doswell scored seven goals and handed out seven assists that season.
- Simpson started a pair of rookies in freshmen Barake Ellie and Ricardo Ibarra.

Up Next
Simpson hosts the Bethel Royals on Monday, Sept. 3 at Buxton Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.