CHICAGO, Ill. – For the second time in as many games, the Gustavus men’s soccer team advanced in the NCAA tournament via a thrilling shootout victory. In a rematch of the MIAC playoff championship, the Gusties got revenge against St. Olaf on Saturday after playing to a 2-2 double overtime draw followed by a 4-3 penalty kick victory. The Gusties advance to the NCAA quarterfinals where they will face host Chicago at 1 p.m. Sunday with a trip to the Final Four in Salem, Va. on the line.
It didn’t take long for St. Olaf to gain a 1-0 lead as it scored in the first 4:30 of the game courtesy of a Gustavus own goal. Nearly eight minutes later, Owen Johnson (Jr., Apple Valley) found Raphael Cattelin (Jr., Edina) for the equalizer and the score remained 1-1 at the half.
As they did in the first half, the Oles quickly scored to start the second with a goal just 4:04 into the frame. But again, the Gusties were quick to answer four minutes later in the same fashion as the first goal as Cattelin scored on an assist from Johnson. Each team had a few scoring opportunities late in regulation, but the game was sent to overtime. Again, neither team was able to score in the two 10-minute overtime periods and the game went to penalty kicks.
Both teams made their first round of penalty kicks, followed by an acrobatic kick save by Wesley Sanders (Sr., Urbandale, Iowa) in the second round. The Gusties were unable to take the advantage in the second round with a miss and the teams went to the third round tied 1-1. An Ole miss to start the third followed by a made shot by Cattelin gave the Gusties the advantage and one they would not let go of as Teig O’Kelly (So., Hudson, Wis.) made the fourth round and Clarence Weah (So., Minnetonka) sealed the win with a make in the fifth round.
St. Olaf outshot the Gusties 21-14 as Sanders made seven saves in goal. The Oles had 11 corner kick opportunities compared to three for Gustavus.
Gustavus is making it first NCAA sectional final appearance since 2005 when it made it all the way to the national championship game. The Gusties also reached the NCAA sectional final in 2004.