NORTHFIELD, Minn. – No. 22 Saint John's soccer fell to No. 3 St. Olaf 3-1 on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
SJU (13-2-2, 5-2-1 MIAC) led for 19:15 in the first half after three freshmen connected on a goal just 3:32 into play, but unbeaten St. Olaf (14-0-2, 7-0-0 MIAC) responded with three unanswered goals - two in the second half - to seal the victory.
Midfielder Aidan Buckneberg (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Southwest) tallied his second goal in as many games after forwards Soren Benson (Brainerd, Minn./Lake Region Christian) and Jacob Oliver (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) connected to put the ball in the box. Oliver made a nifty touch with the side of his foot to set up Buckneberg for the score.
St. Olaf evened it with a long shot from just above the box that soared into the top right corner at 22:47.
The Oles' go-ahead goal came off a free kick outside the box after SJU was whistled for a yellow card just 4:01 after halftime. St. Olaf scored its final tally 10 minutes later, capitalizing on a defender down in the box to set up an open man.
Buckneberg nearly scored his second of the game at 65:68, but his shot to the right corner was saved by the Oles' diving keeper.
After a yellow card on the Oles in minute 80, freshman midfielder Grady Monette (Andover, Minn.) sent a free kick into the box, but the Johnnie attempting to head the ball was pushed to the ground in the scrum.
St. Olaf marched down the field and had another attempt at a free kick outside of the box thanks to one of four yellow cards on SJU on the day, but sophomore goalkeeper Alex Keekley (St. Louis Park, Minn./Minnetonka) was able to punch it off the crossbar and out of play.
Sophomore forward Eli Ryan (Victoria, Minn./Minnetonka) saved the Oles from extending the lead again with five minutes to go, as a St. Olaf shot bounced behind Keekley. Ryan dove into the goal and kicked the ball over his own head and out of trouble.
Oliver made one final attempt to cut the deficit, but his pass to junior forward Ronan O'Connor (Woodbury, Minn./Hill-Murray) drifted out of play and just past the goal.
Keekley finished with five saves in goal, while Buckneberg led with three of SJU's four shots on target.
The Johnnies host Carleton (10-4-1, 6-2-0 MIAC) for their final regular-season home game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Haws Field.
