The 12th-ranked Gustavus men’s soccer team is seeded number one in the MIAC playoffs and will host the number four seed Bethel University in the semifinal match on Tuesday, November 2. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00pm in St. Peter, Minn.
Gustavus, the 2004 MIAC regular season co-champion with St. Olaf, ended the regular season with a MIAC record of 8-1-1 and an overall record of 15-1-2, while Bethel ended the regular season with a MIAC record of 6-3-0 and an overall record of 11-6-3. Bethel handed Gustavus its only loss of the season on October 13 in St. Peter, Minn. The Royals claimed a 1-0 victory and ended the Gusties 29-game unbeaten streak. Reed Thunstrom (FR, Isanti, Minn.) scored the lone goal of the match for Bethel, which is the only conference goal the Gusties allowed all season.
Since the loss to the Royals, the Gusties have gone 3-0 in conference play. Gustavus defeated Hamline (3-0), Macalester (1-0 OT) and St. Thomas (1-0) to secure its share of regular season MIAC title. It is the fourth regular season conference title for head coach Larry Zelenz and the ninth in school history, which sets a new MIAC record.
Bethel has gone 2-3 after defeating Gustavus in mid-October. The Royals defeated Augsburg (3-1) and St. John’s (2-0) and lost to Macalester (2-1), Hamline (1-0) and St. Thomas (2-1). The Royals fourth place finish in the MIAC is their best finish since 1999 (third place finish).
Gustavus ended the regular season by hosting non-conference opponent Colorado College on Saturday, October 30. The Gusties defeated the Tigers 2-0 with a goal in each half from J.T. Johnson (FR, Tonka Bay, Minn.). Gustavus goalkeepers Nate Hitch and Andy Moulton combined to make four saves to record the team’s 16th shutout of the season.
Number three seed St. Olaf College will host number four seed Macalester College on Tuesday at 2pm in Northfield, Minn. The winners of Tuesday’s matches will play in the MIAC playoffs final on Saturday, November 6 with the highest seed hosting. The winner of the post-season tournament will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament scheduled to begin November 10.