Saint John's soccer plays host to Gustavus Adolphus for a 4 p.m. game on Friday, Sept. 24, at Haws Field. – Live Stats/Live Video

MASK POLICY: All students, employees and visitors to campus are required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. 

SJU expects masking for unvaccinated individuals in high-density outdoor events where social distancing cannot be maintained.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (4-2-1, 1-0-0 MIAC) won its conference opener 1-0 last Saturday (Sept. 18) at Saint Mary's, thanks to junior Aidan Becken's (Prior Lake, Minn.) game-winning goal 2:45 into overtime.

Sophomore midfielder Cole Ober's (Hudson, Wis.) free kick for SJU across the six-yard box pin-balled between players until a Saint Mary's clearing attempt hit Becken in the chest. The 6-foot-5 defender played the ball to his feet and easily tapped it to the back of the net for his first goal of the season and second of his career.

Becken, was certainly due, however. He hit the post in the first half and rattled the crossbar in the second. Sophomore midfielder Jack Simonet (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnetonka) less than two minutes before Becken's game-winner in overtime.

Freshman goalkeeper Evan Siefken (Lakeville, Minn./North) made five saves, including one on a penalty kick in the 39th minute, to earn his second collegiate shutout and improve to 3-2-1 on the season.

The visitors collected a narrow 12-11 edge in shots (5-5 on goal), including 3-0 in overtime, and a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks.

SUCCESS IN MIAC OPENERS CONTINUES: SJU is now 27-9-4 in its conference opener since 1981, including a 13-4-2 mark on the road.

REGIONAL RANKINGS: The Johnnies were No. 10 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Region IX rankings released Sept. 21. Five other teams from the MIAC were also listed: Gustavus (No. 1), Carleton (No. 2), Augsburg (No. 6), St. Olaf (No. 7) and St. Scholastica (No. 9). The Gusties fell from No. 18 out of the top 25 in the national poll posted the same day. Augsburg, Carleton and Gustavus received votes.

1. Gustavus Adolphus
2. Carleton
3. Wartburg (Iowa)
4. Luther (Iowa)
5. Loras (Iowa)
6. Augsburg
7. St. Olaf
8. Wisconsin-Whitewater
9. St. Scholastica
10. SJU

A LOOK AT THE GUSTIES: Gustavus Adolphus (5-3-0, 1-1-0 MIAC) bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Carleton Sept. 18 with a 2-1 non-conference win Tuesday (Sept. 21) over Bethany Lutheran. Junior Nitck Katzman opened the scoring Tuesday with his third goal of the season in the 34th minute. Senior Cole Schwartz made it 2-0 with a highlight-reel goal - a bicycle kick off a corner - with 19 minutes remaining. Bethany Lutheran, which was out-shot 16-6 in the game, erased the shutout with 40 seconds left. 

Schwartz leads the Gusties in goals (5) and points (13), and is tied with senior Scott Heinen, freshman Ethan Miller and sophomore Owen Johnson for the team lead in assists (3). Schwartz led the Gusties with 55 points (24g/7a), followed closely by junior Raphael Cattelin with 49 (17g/15a), in 2019.

LAST SPRING: A goal with four minutes remaining gave Gustavus Adolphus a 2-1 win over Saint John's the last time these two teams met nearly five months ago (April 17) in Collegeville.

Scott Heinen's free kick from the left of the net went past everyone in front and served as the game-winner for GAC.

The Gusties found the scoreboard first, 10:30 into the match, on a goal from Nolan Garvin. GAC's corner kick pinballed around the box and defender Joe Parise '21 headed the ball out, but the clearing attempt went right to Garvin, who ripped a shot to the right edge of the goal.

Midfielder Paul Wadsworth '21 tied the game for SJU with his 12th career goal in the 32nd minute. Junior defender Cavin Allen (Excelsior, Minn./Chanhassen) serviced a deep free kick to the middle of the box, where Wadsworth headed the ball backwards into the net.

Junior goalkeeper Jake Swanson (Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Jefferson) made 10 saves as Gustavus out-shot SJU 18-3. The visitors turned on the offensive pressure in the second half, out-shooting the Johnnies 11-1 with an 11-0 advantage in corner kicks (16-1 in the game).

SERIES HISTORY: SJU is 18-22-6 against Gustavus since 1979, including an 8-10-4 record in Collegeville. The Gusties have won each of the last five meetings.