Addison Smith | The Duquesne Duke
Senior midfielder Austin Lange had plenty to write home about last week. He was named one of the Tribune-Review’s top college soccer players in the area on Aug. 26 and netted a hat trick Sunday to lead the men’s soccer team to a 4-2 victory over the St. Francis University Red Flash at Rooney Field.
Lange’s first goal was a header in front of the net; his second was a low ball that found its way to the corner of the net. His third came on a penalty kick 10 minutes into the second half.
Senior forward Kadeem Pantophlet recorded three assists on the day. He set up Lange for two of his three goals. He continued his giving ways on the Dukes’ fourth goal, setting up freshman midfielder Fredrik Borenstein. Lange’s three goals and Pantophlet’s three assists were both the first time a member of the men’s soccer team accomplished those feats since 2003.
Lange matched his scoring tally last season in 54 minutes of play this year.
Head coach Chase Brooks was impressed with Lange’s overall play Sunday.
“[Lange is] tremendous,” Brooks said. “Three goals is utterly fantastic. That’s what we’re looking for and just proud of his effort and his ability to get things on frame.”
The officials booked the Dukes for four yellow cards. Brooks didn’t agree with the calls.
“I actually thought the yellow cards weren’t necessarily our fault,” Brooks said. “Our guys were playing hard and battling, and I like that intensity that they brought. I think there were some soft decisions, but that’s the game and we have to adapt to the game, and I thought we did better at that as the game went on.”
Pantophlet agreed the calls were a result of aggressive play from the Red & Blue.
“I think it was a couple soft calls,” Pantophlet said. “[The referee] would count up the fouls you committed then give you a card. I guess it’s like FIFA stuff. In a game like this, it was just a little soft.”
The Dukes are now preparing for the Duquesne Invitational, where the school will host three teams. Duquesne will play Binghamton University and Bowling Green University, while Brooks’ former program Niagara University will still be in town. The Invitational will run all weekend at Rooney Field.
Lange said the Dukes are hopeful to come away with two wins this weekend and want to keep games high scoring.
“[We need] just two wins,” Lange said. “If it’s not a win, it’s not a loss, we don’t concede goals here. We have to be a little bit better defensively and keep scoring goals. We want to be a high scoring team this year, last year we didn’t have the finishing, but we had four today. We’re moving in the right direction.”
The Red & Blue will play first against Binghamton on Friday at 6 p.m. at Rooney Field, and then against Bowling Green on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Dukes were without senior defenseman Colin Phillips the entire weekend due to a groin injury. Phillips aggravated his groin in the game against the University of Pittsburgh on Aug. 24, then pulled his groin last week in practice. Phillips said he is doubtful to play in the Duquesne Invitational this weekend and is healing one day at a time. He is hopeful he will make the trip to Oregon with the team Sept. 12-14 when they take on Oregon State University and the University of Portland.
