Saint John's soccer travels to face St. Olaf for a 3:30 p.m. game on Sunday, Oct. 9, at Rolf Mellby Field in Northfield. – Live Stats | Live Video

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (5-1-3, 2-1-1 MIAC) and Augsburg played to a 1-1 tie last Saturday (Oct. 1) in Minneapolis.

Freshman forward Carter Hermanson (St. Paul, Minn./Holy Angels) gave SJU a quick 1-0 lead with his first collegiate goal 3:58 into the contest. Jakob Mohrlock tied it for Augsburg in the 19th minute.

Sophomore goalkeeper Evan Siefken (Lakeville, Minn./North) made seven saves in the tie (4-1-3 record).

The Auggies out-shot the Johnnies 17-7 (8-2 on goal). Senior forward Ryan Erickson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan) was denied by an Auggie player (team save) in the 35th minute.

The draw was the first between the two teams since Oct. 25, 2008 (a scoreless tie in Collegeville).

UP TO NO. 6 IN THE REGION: SJU moved up one spot to No. 6 in the latest Region IX poll released by United Soccer Coaches Oct. 4. St. Olaf fell one spot to No. 7.

1. Gustavus Adolphus (No. 10 nationally)
2. Wisconsin-Eau Claire (No. 23 nationally)
3. Luther, Iowa
4. Wartburg, Iowa
5. Wisconsin-Platteville
6. SJU
7. St. Olaf
8. Loras, Iowa

A LOOK AT THE OLES: St. Olaf (7-4, 4-1 MIAC) blanked No. 23 Wisconsin-Eau Claire yesterday (Oct. 6) in Northfield. Junior Casey McCloskey extended his point streak to four games and matched his career high with four points for STO, which handed UWEC its second-straight loss after the Blugolds opened the season with 13 straight wins. The Oles are 5-0 at home this fall.

Sophomore Shea Bechtel opened the scoring with a breakaway goal - his fourth tally in the last five games - in the 13th minute. He leads the team in points (13) and is tied for the team lead in assists (5) and shots (33).

 Later in the half, St. Olaf doubled its lead when McCloskey chested down a loose ball in the box and fired a right-footed shot into the left side of the net in the 37th minute. 

After setting up Bechtel's opening goal, junior Liam Vance got a goal of his own in the 65th minute. STO recorded its fifth shutout in the last six games thanks in part to a six-save shutout from junior Austin Williams, who earned his fourth clean sheet of the season. He is 5-3 with a 0.88 GAA and a .806 save percentage (29 saves).

LAST FALL: SJU dropped a pair of 1-goal games to St. Olaf last fall.

St. Olaf 1, at Saint John's 0 - 2OT (Oct. 9, 2021)
Bechtel scored the deciding goal for St. Olaf with 1:52 into the second overtime. Bechtel took the ball up the left sideline, turned the corner and fired a shot to the far post. Siefken made a diving play on the ball, but the shot hit off his hands and found the back of the net. Siefken made six saves in the loss. The Oles out-shot the Johnnies 20-6 (7-4 on net), including a 12-3 margin after halftime.

at St. Olaf 2, Saint John's 1 (MIAC Semifinals; Nov. 3, 2021)
The Johnnies ended their 2021 season with a 2-1 loss to then-No. 12 St. Olaf in the MIAC semifinals in Northfield. Bechtel gave the Oles a quick 1-0 lead with his 11th goal of the season 7:25 into the game. 

Senior midfielder Matt D. Anderson (Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep) tied the game at 1-1 with his team-leading fifth goal of the season (eighth of his career) following a superb, individual effort 2:28 later. A long ball from junior defender Cole Ober (Hudson, Wis.) found Anderson in the box, who spun and flipped the ball from right to left at the corner of the six-yard box and used his left foot for the goal.

Hakeem Morgan scored what proved to be the game-winning goal, his 12th tally of the season, on a shot from just outside the box in the 70th minute. The Oles out-shot SJU, which made its 10th trip to the semifinals in 11 MIAC Playoff appearances, by a 21-6 (7-4 on goal) margin. The home team also posted an 11-2 advantage in corner kicks. Siefken made five saves.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies lead the series with a 27-16-2 record since 1981, including a 12-7-2 record Northfield. SJU is 5-3-1 in the last nine matchups at Rolf Mellby Field, including a 4-1 win in the 2014 MIAC semifinals.