The Gustavus Adolphus men’s soccer team moved up in both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and D3soccer.com polls after a successful 2-0 week in which the Gusties blanked Crown 7-0 on Oct. 4 and Bethel 2-0 on Oct. 8. The Gusties are currently ranked No. 13 in the NSCAA poll and No. 10 in the D3soccer.com poll.
Gustavus is currently tied for first place in the conference standings alongside Carleton with 13 points. The Gusties are off to their best start since 2006 when Head Coach Larry Zelenz’s squad started 12-1-1, finishing first in the MIAC before falling in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.
Head Coach Mike Middleton’s squad is currently ranked in the top-five in NCAA Division III in both team goals against average and total goals. The Gusties are allowing .30 goals per game (2nd/NCAA) and have scored a total of 44 goals (4th/NCAA).
Five Gusties currently grace the MIAC’s points leaderboard. Zach Brown is tied for second with 21 points (9G, 3A), while Mark Adams ranks fifth with 20 points (7G, 6A). Justin Eglseder is the top scoring defenseman in the league with 15 points (6G, 3A), while Jackson Zoellner (3G, 7A) and Doug Frey (5G, 2A) round out the group in ninth and tenth, respectively.
Rookie netminder Brett Ylonen enters the week at 9-1-1 and has played a total of 844:31 minutes so far this season. Ylonen ranks seventh in the nation in goals against average (0.386) and 16th in save percentage (0.892).
The Gustavus men’s soccer team has two MIAC contests slated to take place on the Gustie Soccer Field this week. The Gusties will battle Hamline on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 4:00 p.m., and Augsburg on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1:00 p.m.