The SJU soccer team returns to conference play at Gustavus Adolphus this Saturday, Sept. 22. The match is set for 1 p.m. in St. Peter. – Live Stats/Live Video
Preview Video:
-Head coach John Haws (0:36)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The Johnnies (3-2-2, 1-0-0 MIAC) suffered their second loss of the season, 2-1, to Wartburg (Iowa) Sept. 16. The Knights took advantage of an own goal and a lucky bounce for their two decisive goals. Junior Matt Carson (Waconia, Minn.) gave SJU an early 1-0 lead with his first goal of the season 3:32 into the match. Sophomore David Wee (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) and freshman Alex Niederloh (Maple Grove, Minn.) assisted on the scoring play. Wartburg tied it at one apiece when SJU senior Andrew Johnson (St. Louis Park, Minn.) attempted to clear a loft pass by the Knights, but instead, his header bounced backwards into the open net. Bad luck struck again for the Johnnies when junior Calvin Koep (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) attempted to clear the ball in the 71st minute, but the ball deflected off a Wartburg player directly to Chris Nothnick, who was all alone in front. The Johnnies missed out on a number of opportunities to put the match away. Junior Michael Coborn (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) missed the net by a few feet on two different occasions in the first half, while classmate Joe Balder (Stillwater, Minn.) rattled the crossbar on a header in the 60th minute. Wee led a 3-on-2 advantage with 3:30 left in regulation but was pushed to the ground with no whistle. Freshman Kevin Lebahn (New Hope, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) made five saves in the loss, his second collegiate start. SJU held an 18-12 advantage in shots, as well as a 7-2 margin in corner kicks.
A LOOK AT THE GUSTIES: Gustavus (5-1-1, 1-0-1 MIAC) enters this weekend's contest riding a five-match unbeaten streak since dropping its season opener to UC-Santa Cruz (1-0) Aug. 31. The Gusties went 3-0-1 in their last four matches, all on the road. All three victories were 1-0 decisions at North Park (Ill.), Concordia-Moorhead and Wartburg. The Gusties and Oles tied 1-1 Sept. 12 in Northfield. Senior midfielder Grant Steine (4g/0a) and sophomore forward Zach Brown (3g/2a) lead the team with eight points apiece. Goalkeeper Brett Ylonen has a 0.59 GAA and a .852 save percentage in net.
LAST YEAR'S MATCH: GAC's Zach Brown scored the game-winner 2:55 into the second overtime to defeat SJU 2-1 last Sept. 24 in Collegeville. Brown's first goal of the match gave the Gusties, then-ranked 20th nationally, a 1-0 lead in the 60th minute. SJU tied the match at 1-1 three minutes later, with assists going to Coborn and sophomore Josh Whitaker (Milwaukie, Ore.). Junior Ryan Brutger (St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo) made nine saves in the loss. GAC held a 21-19 edge in total shots (11-8 on goal), though SJU tallied a 9-6 advantage on corner kicks.
SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 15-14-6 against the Gusties since 1979, including an 8-8-2 mark in St. Peter. SJU, however, is just 2-5-1 in its last eight matches at GAC.
TALE OF TWO HALVES: Nine of the Gusties' 14 goals so far this season occurred in the first half, while 12 of the Johnnies' 14 goals were scored after halftime.
