Kurt Heise looks upfield during the first half of Saturday's game.
(Photo courtesy St. Olaf Sports Information)
NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College men’s soccer team saw its MIAC-best 11-match unbeaten streak snapped with a 2-0 loss at rival St. Olaf College. Although the two squads finished the regular season tied for second place in the conference standings, today’s result means the Oles will host Wednesday’s re-match during the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs.
Today’s tilt was a scoreless affair over the first 45 minutes, but early in the second half the Oles broke the deadlock as Nick Lund finished a through ball for his fourth goal of the season.
Three minutes later Carleton goalkeeper James Neher (Sr./Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi) made a leaping stop of a shot destined for the upper corner, keeping it a one-goal game for the time being.
In the 76th minute, Will Schifeling’s (Jr./Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) bid for the equalizer sailed inches over the crossbar. Branden McGarrity’s (So./Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) free kick from just outside the box in the 84th minute was deflected over the bar by Oles’ keeper Ben Braman, setting the stage for a flurry of activity over the next two-plus minutes that saw the Knights take three corner kicks and have a trio of chances inside the 18-yard box.
The Oles’ Kevin Skrip tacked on an insurance goal in the 87th minute to close out the scoring. Neher was credited with four saves while Brennan recorded five stops.
The MIAC Playoff semifinal between these two squads is slated for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6. This will be The Knights and Oles first meeting since St. Olaf won a two-overtime thriller in the 2011 finals.
NOTE: Fans should be aware that unlike the regular season, the MIAC will be charging admission for all postseason contests.
