Four men’s soccer players were named to the MIAC All-Conference team for the 2004 season. Senior defender Joe Hartwell (Apple Valley, Minn.) was named the MIAC’s Most Valuable Player and earned all-conference honors for the third year in a row. Junior midfielders Jonathan Astry (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Bobby Kroog (Bloomington, Minn.) were also named to the first team, while senior goalkeeper Andrew Moulton (St. Peter, Minn.) received honorable mention.
Hartwell spent the season anchoring a defense that allowed only two goals in 20 games and only one in conference play. Hartwell has played in all but two matches for the Gusties during his career and has been on the field for every minute of play this season. He is currently second on the team with five goals and two assists for 12 points. Hartwell was named the MIAC Player of the Week on October 4, 2004 and received Gustavus Player of the Month honors for the month of September. Joe Hartwell becomes the second player in school history to be named MIAC MVP and the first since Scott Crowell in 2000.
Junior Bobby Kroog, an NSCAA All-America selection in 2003, received all-conference honors for the second straight year, while junior Jonathan Astry received his first all-conference honor. The juniors directed the Gustie midfield in one of the most successful seasons in school history. Kroog tallied four goals and three assists during the 2004 season and ranked fourth in the MIAC with three game-winning goals. Astry recorded one assist and has been a solid performer for the Gusties in his second year as a starter. The midfielder has played an integral part of the Gustie offense that has scored 44 goals and a defense that allowed just two goals.
Andrew Moulton earned honorable mention honors for the first time of his career. The senior has played in 15 games and has only allowed two goals in 1354 minutes in the nets for Gustavus. Moulton, the 2003 NCAA Division III goals against average statistical champion, led the MIAC with 11 shutouts and a 0.13 goals against average.
Gustavus defeated Macalester College 3-0 in the MIAC Playoff Championship to earn its second consecutive NCAA appearance and fifth in school history. Gustavus received a bye in the first round of the national tournament and hosted UW-Whitewater in a second round match on Saturday, November 13. The Gusties and Warhawks tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and neither team was able to manufacture a goal in the two ten minute overtime periods. The game was decided in a penalty kick shootout with the Gusties prevailing 5-4. Gustavus will travel to San Antonio, Texas to play Trinity University in a section semifinal match of the NCAA tournament. The Gusties are ranked tenth in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of the America (NSCAA), while the Tigers are ranked number one in the nation by the NSCAA.