Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Freshman Shonari Phillips (Tindley HS, Indianapolis, Ind.) finished off a run up the right side with his first career goal Tuesday, lifting Augustana to a 2-1 double overtime win over Aurora at Thorson-Lucken Field. The match was the 2015 season-opener for both teams and the Vikings' first under new head coach Mick Regan.
 
Augustana outshot the Spartans 5-3 in a scoreless first half, but the action picked up early in the second. In the 56th minute, Aurora's Nick Cataldi looked to have a great opportunity to score from the right side. However, freshman keeper Jeff Bell (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) came out of the net aggressively to challenge Cataldi and the Spartan's shot went wide left. Less than three minutes later, junior Michael Brazinski (Plainfield East HS, Plainfield, Ill.) scored off an assist from sophomore Grant Bracken (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
 
In the 65th minute, Aurora took advantage of a Viking misplay at midfield to get the equalizer. Kyle Pierson scored off an Angel Barajas helper to level the score at 1-1.
 
Augustana had a pair of good scoring chances late in regulation. Erik Gustafson's (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) header went wide left in the 75th minute and in the 83rd, the Vikings had a flurry of shots from point blank range turned away. A pair by junior Adam Witucki (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) were both saved by Spartan keeper Zach McFarland and a third, by freshman Samuel Kratzer (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) was blocked.
 
After a scoreless first overtime, Phillips ended the match with a rush up the right side in the second. He took a feed from Brazinski and chased down a strong first touch, beating an Aurora defender to the ball. His shot ricocheted off another Spartan defender before settling in the net with 6:50 on the clock.
 
Augustana outshot the visitors by an 18-11 margin. Brazinski finished the night with a goal and an assist. Bell recorded three saves in his first collegiate match.
 
Next up for Regan's crew is a match at Lake Forest on Friday, September 4 at 4:30 p.m.