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Morris, Minn. – With a berth in the conference tournament already locked up, the Minnesota Morris men's soccer team went an extra step in securing a first round home game today (Oct. 26), posting a 3-0 win over Martin Luther.

With the win, senior goalkeeper Tyler Weber (Erie, Colo.) posted his ninth shutout of the season, setting a new program record for single season shutouts, breaking the four-year-old standard set by Tyler Simpson in 2007. The reigning conference Defensive player of the Week also now has 23 career shutouts, four shy of the school record.  

Entering the day second in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) standings, the Cougars now need just a tie in their final game to guarantee they will open the post season at home on Nov. 2.

Martin Luther (4-10-0, 2-10-0 UMAC) gave the Cougars a gift jus the eighth minute of the game, when a pass from the Knight defense back to the goalkeeper was off target, slipping past the keeper and into the corner of the net for to put the Cougars up 1-0.

That would be all Morris (10-4-2, 9-2-0 UMAC) would get until the 81st minute when Greg Borchers (Westminster, Colo.) took advantage of a Knight penalty in the box to score his second penalty kick of the season.

Then finally, after 28 total shots on the day the Cougars scored during the course of play, with John Hastings (Bloomington, Minn.) scoring on a beautiful cross into the box from Matt Johnson (Monument, Colo.).  It is Hastings' second goal in his last three matches, after scoring the first of his career on Oct. 20.

Midway through the second – and still clinging to a 1-0 lead – the Cougars were called for a foul just outside the 18-yard box, leaving the Knights to set up for a free kick. With Morris still setting up their wall, Martin Luther quickly shot, with the attempt going just wide of the far post, preserving the UMM lead.

The 28 shots are the second best mark of the season for the Cougars, behind only the 40 they put up against the Knights in their first meeting. The allowed just five total shots, and for the first time all season they hold their opponent without a shot on goal.   

They close out the regular season back on Cougar Field this Saturday, Oct. 29, hosting Bethany Lutheran on Senior Day. Kickoff with the nights is at 2:00 p.m.