Junior Alex Groth celebrates after netting the first goal of the game.
The Gusties will face Messiah (23-0-0) in the national championship match.
Senior co-captain Jon Astry plays the ball alongside a Whitworth defender
Sophomore Jeffrey Johnson celebrates after scoring the eventual game-winner against Whitworth
The Gustavus men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship Match against defending national champion Messiah with a 2-1 win over Whitworth College. The national championship match will take place at 4 p.m. (CST) Saturday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C.
Sophomore Jeffrey Johnson (Tonka Bay, Minn.) scored the game-winner with 15 minutes to play in regulation.
The Gusties scored first with junior Alex Groth (Waupaca, Wis.) redirecting a shot past Whitworth keeper Scott Bostock in the 11th minute. Senior central defender Jordan Iblings (Plymouth, Minn.) was credited with an assist after launching an indirect free kick in Groth’s direction.
Whitworth knotted the score late in the first half with a goal by junior Adam Loeffler.
Gustavus moves on to face defending national champion Messiah (Pa.) in the national championship match. The Gusties are the first MIAC men’s soccer team to advance to the national championship match. The championship match will be video streamed live on NCAASports.com. Click here to access the video stream. NOTE: To view the feed from the NCAASports.com site, a high-speed internet (DSL/Cable) connection is required.
The match will also be broadcast through the Gustavus athletics website. Gustavus sports information director Tim Kennedy will handle the play-by-play duties beginning at approximately 3:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Click here to access the Gustavus broadcast page.