The Johnnie soccer team returns to the road with a pair of non-conference matches this weekend on the campus of Concordia University in Mequon, Wis. SJU is scheduled to face North Park (Ill.) at noon on Saturday, Sept. 6, followed by a 1 p.m. contest against Beloit (Wis.) on Sunday, Sept. 7. – Live Stats (Saturday) | Live Stats (Sunday)

Preview Video:
-Coach Haws (0:49)

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's opened its 2014 season with two shutout wins on the road last weekend. The Johnnies blanked Minnesota-Morris 3-0 on Aug. 29 and tallied a 1-0 win at Simpson (Iowa) Aug. 31. Three underclassmen tallied goals for SJU in the opener. Sophomore Zach Wright's (Blaine, Minn.) first collegiate goal, 26:02 into the match, gave SJU a 1-0 lead. Senior Zane Heinselman (River Falls, Wis.) fielded a long punt from junior goalkeeper Kevin Lebahn (New Hope, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's), dribbled up the middle and found Wright open to his right, who then sniped a shot under the outstretched gloves of the Morris goalkeeper. Sophomore Sam Newman (St. Louis, Mo./Priory) made it 2-0 in the 55th minute (54:33) with his second collegiate goal, on an assist from junior Alex Niederloh (Maple Grove, Minn.). Freshman Alex Schnobrich (Houlton, Wis./Shattuck-St. Mary's) added to the Johnnies' lead off a crossing pass from sophomore Jake Anderson (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) with 9:30 remaining. Sophomore Justin DuQue (Union, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) added the second assist.

A goal from Heinselman 3:01 into the second half proved to be the difference at Simpson. Sophomore Tanner Heinselman (River Falls, Wis.), Zane's younger brother, blasted a corner kick off the far post, which then ricocheted back to the middle of the goal box where a properly-positioned Zane was able to put it away in the back of the net. Junior Kevin Lebahn (New Hope, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) made three saves to earn his second shutout in as many matches.

MIAC ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Heinselman was named the MIAC Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week for his three-point performance over the weekend. He now has seven points (3g/1a) in his last four matches, going back to last season, and 40 points (14g/12a) in 51 career games.

STRONG START: Starting the soccer season on the right foot seems to be the Johnnies' specialty. SJU has now gone without a loss, in its first two matches, 13 of the last 15 seasons. 

NATIONAL POLL, REGIONAL RANKINGS: The Johnnies were ranked fourth in the latest National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (GCAA) North region poll released Sept. 2, and was the only MIAC institution to receive votes in the national poll posted on the same day. SJU plays host to the region's top-ranked team, Loras (Iowa), which is also ranked second nationally, next Sunday, Sept. 14. Wartburg (Iowa), ranked second in the region and 11th nationally, visits Collegeville for the Johnnies' home opener the day before (Sept. 13). 

ONE MORE FOR SECOND: The pair of wins over the weekend enabled head coach John Haws (35-27-11 career record) to move into a tie with Matt Sikich (35-14-11 record from 1973-76) for the second-most victories in SJU soccer history. One more win would enable Haws to move into second place behind his father, Pat Haws, who collected a 341-140-50 record over 32 seasons from 1978 to 2009, the most in Minnesota collegiate history.

A LOOK AT THE VIKINGS: North Park, like SJU, enters the weekend with a young 2-0 record thanks to seven different goal scorers. The Vikings started the season with a 3-0 shutout over Benedictine (Ill.) and proceeded to collect a 4-1 win against fellow MIAC school, Saint Mary's, last weekend. NPU ended its 2013 season with an 11-5-3 record. The Vikings fell to Wheaton (Ill.) in the first round of the CCIW Playoffs via shootout, 5-3 (following a 1-1 double-overtime tie). Senior defender Markus Fodstad was named to the All-CCIW second team and recorded four goals over a three-game stretch, two of them being game-winners. North Park is also enforced with senior defender Fredrik Greiff, junior forward Diego Lashlee, and junior goalkeeper Wesley Woodley, who all contributed to a spotless 7-0-1 record at home last season. Woodley has a 0.50 GAA and a .875 save percentage (seven saves) on the year.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies and Vikings have met twice before, with SJU picking up both wins: Sept. 8, 2002 in Collegeville (2-1 in overtime) and Sept. 11, 2004 in Chicago (1-0). 

A LOOK AT THE BUCCANEERS: Beloit dropped its season opener by a 2-1 score, in double overtime, to Marian (Wis.) Aug. 29. Senior goalkeeper B.J. Kiser made 13 saves, including the 300th of his career, in the loss and is now tied for third in school history. He also has 12 career shutouts and is five away from reaching the school record. Phillip Amsden scored the Bucs' lone goal, on a penalty kick, in the 33rd minute. He tied for the team lead in goals with two last fall. Beloit ended last season with an overall record of 1-14-2 (1-8-1 MWC). Beloit takes on the weekend's host, Concordia of Wisconsin, on Saturday prior to Sunday's meeting with SJU.