PARKLAND- A goal with less than a minute left in double-overtime gave St. Olaf College a 2-1 non-conference men's soccer victory over the host Pacific Lutheran Lutes on Saturday afternoon at the PLU soccer field. 

The finish by Mohamed Haji sent the Oles on to victory in a game that saw the Lutes dominate the run-of-play.  The loss takes the Lutes to 0-3-1 in their non-conference schedule.

After two tough losses in the week before, PLU looked to rebound against St. Olaf, a team that played in the Division III national tournament last season.  Chad Kearns started the Lutes off well with a goal just three minutes into play off a Surafel Wodajo service.  It was Kearns' second goal of the season and Wodajo's first assist.

The Oles responded just after the break when Austin Dressen headed in a corner kick at 57:50 from John Zietlow.  The goal evened the score and forced the Lutes to continue to press for the winner. 

At the end of regulation, neither team had broken the deadlock, taking the game into overtime.  Though PLU had two shots in overtime, it was the Oles who struck to win the game.  With just under a minute left in the second overtime, Mohamed Haji slipped his marker and slotted the game-winner into the lower right corner of the goal.  The win takes St. Olaf to 2-1-1 overall in 2010.

After a game heavily dominated by the Lutes in possesion and run-of-play, particularly in the first half, the loss was disheartening for the home team.  After enjoying a 15-3 shot advantage in the first 45 minutes, the Lutes finished the game with 31 shots and 14 on goal, forcing Ole goalkeeper Harry Ullmann into 11 saves. In addition, the St. Olaf defense cleared two balls off the line, including a late second half shot by Wodajo.  PLU keeper Brian Kostol, conversely, faced 15 shots, four on goal, and had two saves. 

PLU has a quick turn-around and plays at home on Sunday against Trinity Lutheran College.

- PLU -