Raphael Cattelin completes his hat trick after a breakaway goal late in the game against Saint John's. (photo courtesy of Alex Nadeau)
MANKATO, Minn. – Raphael Cattelin’s (Fy., Edina) and Cole Schwartz (So., Jakarta, Indonesia) proved why they’re the top two point-scorers in the conference as the pair posted hat tricks in Gustavus’s 6-2 win over Saint John’s in the MIAC Semifinals. The double hat trick by Cattelin and Schwartz is the first recorded by the program since at least 1990 (when game-by-game individual statistics were archived). The six goals scored are also a MIAC playoff record. With the win the Gusties improve to 16-3 overall while the Johnnies finish their season at 10-8-1.
“Firstly, thank you to Bethany Lutheran, the women’s soccer team, and our administration for preparing a great venue to play our game today,” said Head Coach Tudor Flintham. “I think the goals kind of stand out on the stat sheet and we had a couple guys have incredible statistical days, but the reality was the thing that was going to win or lose the game today was the basic fundamental things. We weren’t good enough at those in the first half and our guys reacted really well after the halftime talk.”
It did not take long for the Gusties to get the scoring started as the Johnnie goalkeeper came out early to try to get to a ball at the top of the box before Schwartz who was able to sneak it past him and it slowly rolled into the net for a 1-0 Gustavus lead 55 seconds into the game. Just 2:20 later, Cattelin was able to break free and send a cross in front of the Johnnie goalkeeper to Schwartz who tapped it in for his second goal of the game and put the Black and Gold up 2-0.
Saint John’s would respond in the seventh minute, as Kagan Foster took a shot from the left side that was deflected slight by the Gusties up and over the head of Gustavus goalkeeper Wesley Sanders (Fy., Urbandale, Iowa) to cut the deficit in half.
In the 20th minute, Cattelin received a long pass from Matt Gibbons (Jr., Minneapolis) and was met at the top of the box by the Johnnie goalkeeper who was able to block Cattelin’s first attempt. Cattelin, who was able to keep his balance, would hustle after the ball that trickled to the left side of the box and take a shot that would get past a few retreating Saint John’s defenders for the 3-1 lead
Just when it seemed that Gustavus was keeping the Johnnie offense at bay and less than 10 minutes remained in the half, Saint John’s Matt Anderson would make a pass to the middle of the box that Ben Becker would chip past Sanders to pull Saint John’s back within one going into halftime.
The second half, which started very even, turned out to be all Gusties. In the 60th minute, Cody Billins (Sr., Farmington) played a perfect ball up ahead to Cattelin who was able beat the Johnnie defense and had just the goalie to beat as he punched it to the right of the keeper for the 4-2 lead and his second goal of the game. Less than a minute later Cattelin would get free up the left side and got into the box and was able to lay a pass out in front of the net for Schwartz to knock in for his final hat trick goal.
The favored would be payed back to Cattelin in the 69th minute though. Schwartz would take a header from Will Richards (Sr., Hudson, Wis.) and play it up ahead to Cattelin who beat the Johnnie defense again and for the second time snuck one to the right of the Saint John’s goalie for a hat trick of his own.
The two team’s played scoreless the last 20 minutes as the Gusties took the win. Sanders played solid in net, punching out a handful of crosses and corner kicks as well as making six saves.
The Gusties will now advance to play St. Thomas on Saturday at 1 p.m. The location is to be determined, depending on the conditions of the Gustie Soccer Field.