Box Score
NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Saint John's soccer clinched a berth in next week's six-team MIAC Playoffs with a convincing 3-0 win at St. Olaf in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Oct. 29, in Northfield.
The Johnnies earned the fifth seed and travel to face fourth-seeded Carleton (9-5-3, 5-3-2 MIAC) for a 2 p.m. quarterfinal match on Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Northfield. SJU defeated the Knights earlier this season, 3-2 in overtime, on Sept. 24 in Collegeville and went 2-1-1 against the other four playoff teams.
The MIAC Playoff appearance will be the eighth for SJU (6-8-3, 5-4-1 MIAC) and fifth consecutive. The Johnnies quarterfinal round at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
SJU has now out-scored the Oles (6-5-6, 3-3-4 MIAC) 16-6 in the last seven meetings (5-1-1 record) at Rolf Mellby Field.
Sophomore forward
Zack Boerjan (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) gave SJU an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. Senior forward
Sam Newman (St. Louis, Mo./Priory) serviced a pass from outside the top-left corner of the box to a hard-charging Boerjan (right-to-left), who possessed the ball, spun and sent a shot to the far post for his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Boerjan ended the regular season second in the MIAC with 13 points (5g/3a) in 10 conference games.
Junior forward
Nic Kramer (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) gave the Johnnies a 2-0 lead with his third goal of the season in the 39th minute. Junior forward
Daniel Bruckbauer (Fargo, N.D./Shanley) and sophomore midfielder
Uriel Cordoba (Medford, Ore./South Medford) provided the assists.
Senior forward
Rocky Harmon (Hudson, Wis.) padded the Johnnies' lead with 11:31 left. A long free kick from senior midfielder
Jose Cabrera (Medford, Ore./South Medford) sailed to the head of senior midfielder
Zach Wright (Blaine, Minn.), who lofted a service over the Ole keeper to Harmon on the back post. The tally was Harmon's fifth of the season and 14th of his career.
Freshman goalkeeper
Nicholas French (Waterford, Wis.) made two saves to earn his third shutout and improve to 6-5-3 (5-3-1 MIAC) on the year.
STO held a slight edge in shots, 14-13, though SJU posted a 5-2 advantage on goal and a 14-4 margin in corner kicks.