Saint John's soccer plays host to Gustavus Adolphus for Homecoming Saturday, Sept. 28. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Haws Field in Collegeville.
Preview Video:
-Head coach John Haws (0:27)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: St. Olaf tallied a goal early in the match and added another 1:27 into the second half in a 2-1 win over SJU (3-4-1, 1-1-0 MIAC) last Saturday (Sept. 21) in Collegeville. The Oles gained a 1-0 lead 8:23 into the match before junior David Wee (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) tied it at 1-1 with six seconds left in the first half. Classmate Zane Heinselman (River Falls, Wis.) chipped the ball ahead to Wee, who sprinted past an Ole defender into a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. His shot to the back of the net was his third tally of the season (12th of his career). Mackenzie Lund scored what proved to be the game-winner for St. Olaf with a breakaway goal of his own less than two minutes into the second half. Sophomore Kevin Lebahn (New Hope, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) made eight saves in the loss for SJU. The Oles out-shot SJU 23-15 overall (10-4 on net), though Saint John's held an 11-10 advantage in the second half.
A LOOK AT THE GUSTIES: Gustavus (5-2-1, 2-0-0 MIAC) saw its five-match unbeaten streak come to an end with a 2-1 loss at home to Wartburg (Iowa) Sept. 24. GAC grabbed a 1-0 lead following a Patrick Roth goal early in the second half, but the Knights responded with two unanswered goals to earn the non-conference road win. Juniors Zach Brown and Mark Tollefsrud lead the team with three goals apiece. Twelve different Gusties account for the team's total of 17 goals on the year. Junior Brett Ylonen has each of Gustavus' eight decisions in net with a 0.66 GAA and a .828 save percentage (24 saves). GAC opened its MIAC schedule with a 2-1 win at Carleton Sept. 18 and a 1-0 shutout of Concordia-Moorhead Sept. 21 in St. Peter.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: Five MIAC teams are listed in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) North Region rankings released Sept. 24: St. Olaf (No. 4), St. Thomas (No. 5), Gustavus Adolphus (No. 6), Carleton (No. 8) and Augsburg (No. 9). Loras (Iowa) maintains its No. 1 rank in the region, as well its fifth national rank.
LAST YEAR'S MEETING: Gustavus' Zach Brown scored two unanswered goals, including the game-winner 5:57 into overtime to defeat SJU by a 2-1 decision last Sept. 22 (2012) in St. Peter. Junior Ian Scudder (Sherwood, Ore.) gave SJU a 1-0 lead at the 39:34 mark of the first half. Brown tied the game at the 70:18 mark and tallied the game-winning goal off a corner kick from David Lilly. Lebahn made 12 saves in the loss, his first MIAC start in net. Gustavus held a 12-2 advantage in corner kicks and was called for three fouls, compared to 13 for SJU. Brown also scored both goals, including the game-winner 2:55 into the second overtime, in the Gusties' 2-1 win in Collegeville two years ago.
SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 14-15-7 against the Gusties since 1979, including a 7-6-4 record in Collegeville. Eleven of the 13 decisions (wins/losses) were decided by one goal, including eight by a 1-0 score (4-4 record).
