MONTGOMERY, Ala. ---- The No. 3 Auburn Montgomery men's soccer team has spent most of this season relying on a defense which has allowed only five goals in 10 games. Today, however, it was the offense's turn, as the Warhawks exploded for eight goals in a shutout victory over Emmanuel College.
Elvar Sigurdsson had two goals and an assist, and six other AUM players scored as well. Twelve players had at least one point in the game.
"We didn't have a good game yesterday [against Brewton-Parker] and we still won," Head Coach Wulf Koch said. "But I expected this reaction. I thought we played absolutely brilliant at stages today. We still have some issues to work out in terms of defending, but today was a good day."
Sebastian Wladyko opened up the scoring 15 minutes in, taking a pass from Axel Vignisson and driving a long-distance shot into the top left corner. It was the second goal of the season for Wladyko, and the first of two assists for Vignisson in the game.
Sigurdsson scored his first goal 10 minutes later. He then assisted on the first goal of the season for Mathis Kroeger in the 31st minute.
The Warhawks outshot Emmanuel 15-5 in the first half, and they held a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.
The rout continued in the second half. In the 56th minute, Baron Watson headed in a perfect cross from Taian Souza for his second goal of the season.
Eight minutes later, AUM scored an almost-identical goal. This time it was Sigurdsson on the receiving end of a cross from Atli Johannsson. Sigurdsson leads the team with five goals and four assists this year.
Late in the game, Koch subbed-in his reserves, and they responded with three goals in a span of less than six minutes.
Cesar Kestring headed in his first goal of the season off of a corner kick from Agust Arnarson in the 79th minute.
Four minutes later, AUM scored off of a another corner kick. Eyjolfur Eyjolfsson picked up his first goal of 2012, drilling a shot into the left corner during a scramble in front.
Arnarson closed out the scoring in the 85th minute, taking a beautiful back-footed pass from Dagur Jonsson and finishing into the lower left corner for his fourth marker of the season.
"There was no letup from the guys that started versus the guys who came in later," Koch said. "And that's what we expect from our reserves. They need to come in and give us a lift. They did that today, and hats off to them."
Vignir Johannesson made three saves for his sixth shutout. His goals against average is now a miniscule 0.43 in 2012 after the performance.
AUM improves to 8-1-1, and the Warhawks are now 4-0 in Southern States Athletic Conference play. Emmanuel drops to 6-4-1 (1-3 SSAC). AUM finished with a 26-9 advantage in shots.
The Warhawks return to action this Wednesday with a 7 p.m. match at the University of Mobile, which is currently ranked 14th nationally.
