The Johnnie soccer team travels to Arden Hills this Saturday, Oct. 16, for an important MIAC match at Bethel. The game is scheduled for noon at the Ona Orth Complex on the BU campus.
Preview Video:
-Head coach John Haws (0:47)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The Johnnies (3-4-4, 2-2-2 MIAC) posted a promising 1-0-1 record last weekend, which included a 1-0 conference win over Hamline and a 1-1 tie at Wisconsin-Superior. On Saturday, freshman Joe Laue's (St. Louis Park, Minn./Holy Angels) second career goal in as many games proved to be the game-winner. A free kick from freshman midfielder Michael Coborn (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) sent the ball to the far post, where Laue knocked it to the far corner on a header 11:39 into the match. Senior Matt Anderson (Eden Prairie, Minn.) made seven saves in net to earn his third shutout of the season and improve to 2-2-2.
On Sunday, freshman Joe Balder's (Stillwater, Minn.) first career goal, a game-tying tally with 11 seconds left in regulation, gave the Johnnies a 1-1 tie on the road. Senior Austin Neuburger (Millstone, N.J./Allentown) dropped a deadball kick near the goal, where Balder exited a scrum and nailed a shot to the far corner to tie the match. Anderson made two saves in the first half before being relieved by freshman Ryan Brutger (St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo), who allowed one goal and tallied six saves.
The Johnnies find themselves in the MIAC Playoff hunt, two points from the top four, with four conference matches to go. Each MIAC victory counts as three points toward the conference standings.
A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel (2-9-2, 1-4-2 MIAC) is 0-5-2 in its last seven matches since its lasdt win against Saint Mary's on Sept. 14 (3-1). Junior Brent Neihart (3g/0a), senior Andreas Scott (2g/1a) and senior Brandon Peplinski (1g/2a) lead the Royals offensively. Junior Leif Sundberg has played every minute in net and carries a .775 save percentage and a 1.71 GAA.
THE LAST MEETING: The Johnnies and the Royals battled to a 1-1 tie last fall in Collegeville. Senior Colin Hall (Maple Grove, Minn.) blasted a shot off the right post with three seconds remaining in the final overtime. Following a scoreless first half, Bethel took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Gregory LeVere 8:42 into the second frame. The Johnnies tied the match on a breakaway goal at the 72:51 mark of the second half. Since 1981, SJU is 22-6-2 against Bethel, including a 10-4-1 record in Arden Hills.
