SAINT PAUL, Minn.: The University of St. Thomas men's soccer team scored 36 seconds into its N.C.A.A. tournament second round match with UW-Superior and didn't look back, ending the Yellowjackets' season, 5-0, at South Field Sunday.
The Tommies scored four of their goals in the first half and made it difficult for Superior to find a foothold in the match all day. The 'Jackets also played the final 13 minutes with 10 men, as James Bruce (Gladstone, Mich./Gladstone) was sent off for a red-card offense.
St. Thomas got things started when Lucas Horton converted a Walter Alvarado rebound for a 1-0 lead. Adrian Leal (Alicante, Spain/IES Cabo de la Huerta) had an opportunity at the 12:38 mark to pull the Yellowjackets even, right before St. Thomas extended its lead, but his shot was stopped by Tommies' goalkeeper Aiden Hogan.
Then, Halvor Houg got on the end of Jack Barry's long throw into the box and put it past Dalton VonKaenel (Eagan, Minn./Eagan H.S.) for a two-goal advantage in the 14th minute.
St. Thomas scored its final goals of the half within three minutes of each other. Jack Amey cleaned up a Scott Cloe shot to make it 3-0 in the 19th minute. VonKaenel got his hands on Cloe's initial shot, but Amey followed it up for the rebound goal.
Houg then scored his second of the match on another rebound goal off of a shot by Josh Grzesiak with 20:25 remaining in the opening period.
St. Thomas put the finishing touches on the match as Jacob Makela dribbled his way into the penalty area and found the left corner of the net, beating Ulrik Lager (Vollen, Norway/Asker VGS), who played the second half in goal for the Yellowjackets.
VonKaenel made five saves in the losing effort while Lager had two for UWS. Hogan made five saves for the shutout victory.
St. Thomas outshot Superior, 14-9, but the 'Jackets had the edge in corner kicks, 4-2. Leal, Blake Hanson (Superior, Wis./Superior) and Blake Perry (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) had two shots apiece to pace the UWS offense.
The Yellowjackets conclude arguably the best season in program history, a campaign that included U.M.A.C. regular-season and tournament championships, at 19-3-1.
