The Johnnie soccer team plays host to St. Olaf for a 1 p.m. match on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Haws Field in Collegeville.
Preview Video:
-Head coach John Haws (0:39)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (3-3-1, 1-0-0 MIAC) returned to the win column with a 2-1 victory at Hamline, the MIAC opener for both teams, on Sept. 18 in St. Paul. Senior Michael Coborn (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) gave SJU a 1-0 lead with his fourth goal of the year 2:55 into the second half. Classmate Matt Carson (Waconia, Minn.) was credited with the assist. Sophomore Robert Deetz (Owatonna, Minn.) made it 2-0 with a breakaway goal, the first of his collegiate career, in the 66th minute (65:28). Hamline cut it to 2-1 on a penalty kick from Jake Niemann with 17:01 remaining. Sophomore goalkeeper Kevin Lebahn (New Hope, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) made four saves to earn his first victory of the season (1-2-1 record). SJU is now 28-4-3 against the Pipers since 1981, including a 14-3-1 record in St. Paul.
MOVING UP THE CHARTS: Coborn's goal on Wednesday was the 24th of his career, tying him with Joe Schmidt (2000-03) for fifth on SJU's all-time scoring list, five behind Jim Phelps (1978-81) with 29. He is also eight points behind Tyler Bosch (2001-04) for fourth (86 points) with 78 (24g/30a).
REGIONAL RANKINGS: SJU has played three schools ranked in the latest National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) North Region poll released Sept. 17: No. 1 Loras (Iowa), No. 4 Luther (Iowa) and No. 7 Wartburg (Iowa). In addition, four MIAC schools, including St. Olaf (No. 6), were listed: No. 3 Augsburg and a tie at No. 8 between Carleton and St. Thomas.
A LOOK AT THE OLES: St. Olaf (5-1-0, 1-0-0 MIAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 14:22 of its MIAC opener against Bethel en route to a 4-2 victory Sept. 18. The Oles' lone loss is a 3-2 decision at home to Luther (Iowa) Sept. 15. Sophomore Kevin Skrip leads the team with six goals (two game-winners) and 13 points, while senior Mackenzie Lund has four assists and eight points. Freshman Ben Braman has a 1.09 GAA and a .571 save percentage (eight saves) in net.
LAST FALL: Saint John's returned to form with a 2-1 win at St. Olaf last Sept. 29 (2012) in Northfield. The victory snapped a three-match losing streak for SJU with its fourth consecutive 2-1 score. Sophomore Alex Niederloh's (Maple Grove, Minn.) first collegiate goal gave SJU a 1-0 lead 11:17 into the match. Andrew Johnson '13 unleashed a shot on goal, but Harry Ullmann's save went directly to Niederloh for the goal. Senior Joe Balder (Stillwater, Minn.) made it 2-0 with his second goal of the year on a penalty kick. Niederloh made a play on a ball at the top of the 18, but just as Ullmann was about to dive on the loose ball, Niederloh took a touch to the side and created a breakaway to the wide-open net. Ullmann, however, tackled Niederloh at the knees, earning a game-ending red card and a penalty kick for SJU. Nick Lund cut the STO deficit to 2-1 with 17:19 remaining. Lebahn made 10 saves to earn the win. St. Olaf out-shot the Johnnies 20-5 in the contest (11-3 on goal).
SERIES HISTORY: SJU is 23-9-2 against St. Olaf since 1981, including an 11-5-0 record in Collegeville. SJU is 4-1-1 against the Oles in the last six meetings, including a 2-1 win last fall in Northfield.
