The Gustavus men’s soccer team defeated Macalester 2-1 in St. Paul to claim the first ever MIAC Playoff Championship and earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Championships. The Gusties extended their unbeaten string to 14 matches and allowed only their sixth goal all season. Gustavus will enter the NCAA Championship with a record of 16-1-3, while the Scots end their season with a mark of 12-6-2.
The Gusties took a 1-0 lead in the match when Scott Storlie scooped up a rebound off a Bobby Kroog shot and knocked it in to an open net at the 43:00 minute mark. Gustavus took its 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Jonathan Astry scored what turned out to be the gamewinner as he sent a rocket into the Macalester net from 20 yards out for the Gusties second goal at the 57:04 mark.
The Scots got a goal from Eddie Powers with 19 minutes remaining in regulation play to cut the lead to 2-1. The goal was only the second goal that Gustavus had allowed in the past 11 matches. The other goal was also scored by the Scots in a regular season match in St. Peter last Saturday. Andrew Moulton picked up the win in the nets for Gustavus.
The Gusties posted their 16th win of the season which is the second highest total in school history. The record is 17 wins set during the 2000 season. The team is currently rated third in the West Region and 18th nationally in the NSCAA poll.
Gustavus will now wait until Sunday night to find out who its opponent will be in the NCAA Tournament. This will be the Gusties fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament play (1993, 1994, 2000, 2003).