Saint John's soccer travels to face No. 5 Gustavus Adolphus for a 2 p.m. MIAC semifinal today (Nov. 2) in St. Peter. – Live Stats/Live Video

TICKET INFORMATION: Admission is $10 for adults and $2 for any student (5 years old and younger are free). There is no senior discount. MIAC Passes are honored. No other passes are accepted.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Sixth-seeded Saint John's (8-6-3, 4-5-1 MIAC) advanced to today's MIAC semifinal with a 1-0 win at third-seeded Macalester yesterday (Nov. 1) in St. Paul.

Senior forward Ryan Erickson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan) took advantage of a mishap between a Mac defender and the goalkeeper for what proved to be the game-winning goal 1:40 into the second half. A long ball from senior defender Cavin Allen (Excelsior, Minn./Chanhassen) bounced high off the turf toward the Scots' net as Erickson and a Scot defender chased it down. The defender headed the ball toward the keeper, but he mishandled the ball and Erickson chipped it into the net for his third goal of the season and ninth of his career (fourth game-winner). 

Sophomore goalkeeper Evan Siefken (Lakeville, Minn./North) made two saves to record his fourth shutout of the season and seventh of his career.

SJU out-shot the Scots 10-8 (4-2 on goal) and posted a 6-2 margin in corner kicks.

SEMIFINALS, AGAIN: SJU has reached the semifinals in 11 of its 12 MIAC Playoff appearances since the tournament was established in 2003.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Johnnies are now 7-10-2 all-time in the conference tournament (3-1-1 against Macalester), including a 6-8-1 record on the road.

A LOOK AT THE GUSTIES: Gustavus Adolphus (13-0-4, 9-0-1 MIAC) won its fifth consecutive game, a 1-0 victory last Saturday (Oct. 29) at Macalester, to claim the MIAC regular-season championship and top seed in this week's conference tournament. Junior Alex Krumenauer scored the game-winner in the 66th minute on a feed from classmate Owen Johnson. Johnson leads the team in goals (7), game-winning goals (4), points (20) and shots (31), while Krumenauer is next with six goals and 15 points. Senior goalkeeper Wesley Sanders is 11-0-3 with a 0.50 GAA and a .846 save percentage (44 saves). He has not allowed a goal since Oct. 17 vs. Luther (Iowa), a shutout streak of 343:18.

EARLIER THIS FALL: SJU suffered its first loss of the season, 5-0, at then-No. 7 Gustavus earlier this fall on Sept. 24 in St. Peter. Johnson scored the game's first goal for Gustavus in the 12th minute and Krumenauer made it a 2-0 score 6:02 later. Raphael Cattelin gave GAC a three-goal lead in the 36th minute and the Gusties tacked on two more in the game's final 4:11.

Gustavus out-shot SJU by a 14-9 margin (10-3 on net). Three different Johnnies had a shot on goal. Senior midfielder Matt D. Anderson (Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep) and freshman defender Noah Hermanson (St. Paul, Minn./Holy Angels) were denied in the final four minutes before halftime, and GAC needed a defender to stop freshman forward Cooper Nowak's (Princeton, Minn.) shot on goal in the 72nd minute. Siefken made five saves in the loss.

LAST YEAR IN THE MIAC TOURNEY: The Johnnies moved on to the 2022 MIAC semifinals with a 2-1 overtime win - the 100th of head coach John Haws' career - over then-No. 19 Gustavus Adolphus last Nov. 1 in St. Peter.

Forward Tommy Picka '22 scored both goals for sixth-seeded SJU. M.D. Anderson dug the ball out of a battle near the midline and played it to senior midfielder Kevin Stark-Haws (Cold Spring, Minn./Saint John's Prep), who found junior midfielder Brian Real Juarez (Shakopee, Minn.) out wide. Real Juarez then sent the ball behind GAC's back line to a slashing run by Picka, who lofted it over the keeper for his third game-winning goal of the season 5:40 into the extra session.

Picka gave SJU an early 1-0 lead on penalty kick, SJU's first attempt of the season, 17:54 into the game. Erickson drew the foul in the box following a textbook through-ball from M.D. Anderson.

Ethan Miller tied the game for Gustavus, however, off a corner kick 4:15 later.

The third-seeded Gusties out-shot the Johnnies by a 22-4 margin (11-2 on goal) as Siefken made 10 saves in the victory.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 11-12-3 at Gustavus since 1979, including a 2-2-1 record in the MIAC Playoffs.