The SJU soccer team hits the road for three non-conference matches in three days this weekend, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. contest at Marian (Wis.) tonight. The Johnnies then travel to face Crown for a 3 p.m. match Saturday, Sept. 8, and to Duluth (Public School Stadium) to take on Wisconsin-Superior at 5 p.m. Sunday. – Live Stats (Marian)
Preview Video:
-Head coach John Haws (0:36)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The Johnnies (1-0-1 overall) followed their season-opening 3-0 win at Minnesota-Morris (Aug. 31) with a 1-1 tie against nationally-ranked Luther (Iowa) Sept. 2. Freshman Cole Howard (Ridgefield, Wash./Skyview) tallied the game-tying goal, the first of his collegiate career, with 6:17 remaining in regulation.
11-2: SJU held an 11-2 shot advantage in the match's final 37:21, including both overtimes, of the 1-1 tie against Luther. The Norse out-shot the Johnnies 13-3 in the first half, and held an 18-5 edge with 17:21 left in the second half, before SJU ended regulation on a furious 6-0 run.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: SJU was ranked seventh in the first National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) North Region rankings released Sept. 4. Loras (Iowa) earned the top spot, followed by St. Olaf, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Augsburg and St. Thomas. The Johnnies' most recent opponent, Luther (Iowa), was ranked sixth.
A LOOK AT THE SABRES: Marian (0-2 overall) enters tonight's match riding a two-game, home losing streak. The Sabres fell to Lawrence, Wis. (2-1) Aug. 31 and Beloit, Wis. (3-0) Sept. 2. Freshman Javier Miranda has the Sabres' lone goal, while sophomore Bryce Woldt started in goal for both matches and has a .688 saving percentage.
OCT. 21, 2001: SJU defeated Marian 1-0 in the only other meeting between the two schools on Oct. 21, 2001, in Mequon, Wis. Andy Witchger's goal on a free kick in the 62nd minute proved to be the difference.
A LOOK AT THE STORM: Crown (0-1 overall) dropped its season opener by an 11-0 score at Simpson, Iowa last Saturday, Sept. 1. Against three new starters on the backline and a new, inexperienced goalkeeper, Simpson tallied five goals in the first half and added six more in the second. Crown was only able to muster four shots on the day. Saturday's match is the first meeting between the two schools on the pitch.
A LOOK AT THE YELLOWJACKETS: The Yellowjackets (1-2 overall) defeated Macalester (2-1) in their season and home opener Aug. 31, but have lost their last two matches against Concordia-Moorhead (1-0) and Augsburg (4-3 OT). Senior Nate Engel and junior Alberto Rivero are tied for the team-lead with three points (1g/1a). Sophomore Matt Elder has a 1.94 GAA and a .500 save percentage in goal. The Johnnies are 2-0-1 all-time against Superior, including a 2-0 victory last Sept. 9 in Collegeville. Superior travels to face MIAC-foe Bethel on Saturday before taking on the Johnnies Sunday evening.
LAST YEAR'S MEETING: SJU rolled to a 2-0 shutout of Wisconsin-Superior on a sun-drenched Sept. 9 last fall in Collegeville. Sophomore Ian Scudder (Sherwood, Ore.) tallied his second goal of the season to give SJU an early 1-0 lead 12:45 into the match. Fellow sophomore David Wee (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) made a nice tackle, split the field's center with a pretty pass to Coborn, who then found Scudder speeding past the defense. Coborn posted his fifth goal of the young season with five minutes to play. Junior Elliott Olsen (East Bethel, Minn./St. Francis) lobbed a long pass to Coborn, who then sped past the defense into a breakaway goal, far post. Brutger made four saves to improve to 2-0 on the season and record his first collegiate shutout. The Johnnies entered the contest ranked fifth in the NSCAA North region rankings, while Superior was ranked ninth.
