2008 was a history-making season for the Knights. They advanced to the quarterfinals ('Elite 8') of the NCAA tournament, marking the first time in school history for any Carleton team to advance that far in the tournament. With 18 wins, a first-time conference tournament championship, and a national ranking (21st), the team set new program records. The Knights defeated both Concordia-Moorhead and Macalester College 3-0 in decisive victories in the MIAC Playoffs, and they defeated St. Scholastica, Puget Sound and Claremont-McKenna in the tournament before falling to eventual National runner-up Wheaton College.

In 2007 the Knights notched 13 wins, one shy of the school record, and finished 13-5 overall. They crafted an impressive run of nine consecutive wins late in the season and finished fifth in the conference, narrowly missing the MIAC playoffs.

In 2006 the team finished 12-5-3 overall, the #2 most improved team in the nation (NCAA) and ranked ninth in the central region (NSCAA/Adidas).

The Knights also advanced to the MIAC Playoff title match in their first conference tournament appearance since the format changed to a four-team, single elimination format. The team narrowly missed an NCAA tournament bid on a penalty kick loss to MIAC champion Concordia-Moorhead. In addition, the Knights ended the season on a nine-game unbeaten streak, which included two wins over Macalester, a team that had not lost a match in more than two years or a MIAC match in more than three years.