Box ScoreST. PETER, Minn. – Saint John's junior midfielder
Alex Niederloh's (Maple Grove, Minn.) first goal of the season, in the 104th minute, gave the Johnnies a 1-0 win in double overtime at Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, Sept. 27, in St. Peter.
The win snapped the Gusties' 17-match, MIAC regular-season win streak. GAC (8-3, 2-1 MIAC) is now 18-2-1 in its last 21 matches against league opponents (regular season and postseason combined), with both losses at the feet of SJU (5-4, 2-1 MIAC).
"Overall, we are really proud of the lads," SJU head coach
John Haws said. "There was a great contrast in styles today. Our boys spent their voices supporting each other, let the officials do their job and harried the home team all over their pitch as we did a year ago. We certainly had the better of the play, created more chances and handled ourselves with class."
At the top of the box with his back to the goal, sophomore
Sam Newman (St. Louis, Mo./Priory) flicked the ball over his and the defender's head, behind him, where a hard-rushing Niederloh and classmate
Paul Wageman (Roseville, Minn./DeLaSalle) were charging into the open space. Niederloh beat his teammate to the ball and chipped it into the net for the game-winner, his third in his last four goals going back to last season. Sophomore
Rocky Harmon (Hudson, Wis.) picked up the second assist.
Junior
Kevin Lebahn (New Hope, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) made six saves to even his season record at 4-4 and pick up his third shutout this fall.
The win, coupled with the Johnnies' 2-1 victory at Gustavus in last year's MIAC semifinal, gives SJU its first back-to-back wins in St. Peter since 1988 (2-0) and 1990 (1-0).
SJU out-shot the Gusties 12-10, though the home team held a 6-4 edge on goal and a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks.
The Johnnies return home to host Macalester for a 4 p.m. match on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Haws Field.
