VERONA, Wis. – The Edgewood College men's soccer team took fate into their own hands Saturday afternoon, clinching the NACC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the NACC Tournament with a 5-0 win over Marian. Prior to the match, the Eagles celebrated the careers of five seniors – Aldon Lumani, Miguel Konde Gwo, Brandon Hough, Austin Hauser and Leo Krause. Connor Gage notched a hat trick in the victory, while Joshua Kerr and Brandon Kaup added to the scoring.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gage led the Edgewood College (16-1-2, 10-0-1 NACC) offense on Saturday, recording a hat trick before halftime. Gage's first goal came in the sixth minute. The freshman added his second goal 14 minutes later to put the Eagles up 2-0. Kaup assisted on Gage's second goal.
- Joshua Kerr scored next for the Eagles, putting a foot on two consecutive passes from Gage and Christian Torres-Gale.
- Gage gave the Eagles a 4-0 lead going into halftime, his third goal of the afternoon assisted by Beckham Murrow.
- Kaup scored the Eagles only goal of the second half, assisted by Konde Gwo in the 62nd minute.
- Maverick Van Laanen and Griffin Meisterheim split time in net for the Eagles. Van Laanen making the only save of the afternoon.
- The Eagles outshot Marian University (3-11-4, 2-8-2 NACC) 26 to 4 on the afternoon. Edgewood College put 15 shots on goal. 10 different Eagles recorded a shot in the contest.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Eagles have clinched the regular season conference crown. The title is their first in the NACC era, with their last conference championship coming in 2000 in the Lake Michigan Conference.
- 16 wins tie the wins record set by the 1996 team.
- Gage sets the single-season record for goals at 19, passing his teammate Miguel Konde Gwo for the record. The freshman adds the season record for assists at 13. Gage passes Brian Steinke who recorded 12 assists in the 2000 season.
- 15 wins for goalkeeper Van Laanen ties Justin Meyer (2000) for the most wins in a single-season.
UP NEXT
- Edgewood College will host St. Norbert College in their final regular season contest on Wednesday. Action is set for 6:00 p.m. from Edgewood College Field at Reddan Park.
