Game Information:
Date: Saturday, October 31
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Saint Peter, Minn. | Gustie Soccer Field
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
Live Coverage: Video| Stats
SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College men’s soccer team will host its final game of the 2015 season on Saturday afternoon as it welcomes Hamline University to the Gustie Soccer Field. The Gusties enter the contest with an overall record of 8-4-3 and a conference mark of 2-4-3, while the Pipers come to town at 7-7-2 overall and 5-3-2 in the MIAC.
As is tradition at Gustavus, the game will serve as Senior Day, and a special tribute will be made to the individuals who have dedicated themselves to the men’s soccer program for the past four years.
The Gusties are most recently coming off a 3-1 win over Concordia College on Wednesday in Moorhead, Minnesota. Gustavus struck early, as first-year forward Arthur Parens (Wayzata, Minn.) netted an unassisted goal just two minutes into the game to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. However, that lead proved to be short-lived, as the Cobbers struck back less than six minutes later, with Sage Thornbrugh scoring Concordia’s first goal off assists from Nick Koerbitz and Matthew Fulks at the 7:15 mark. The score remained tied at 1-1 for a majority of the remainder of the half, but senior forward Eli Bjerk (Stillwater, Minn.) was able to score the game-winning goal for the Gusties at 37:45, to put the Black and Gold up 2-1 headed into the half. Henry Brose (Jr., Hudson, Wis.) added the Gusties’ third goal 14:35 into the second half off an assist from Ian Smith (Fy., Amherst, N.H.).
“The lads played very well in difficult conditions,” said Coach Mike Middleton of the game. “It was very cold and windy. It was great getting the win though, and well-deserved.”
Hamline is most recently coming off a 1-0 home victory over Bethel University on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota. With just 66 seconds remaining and the game tied at 0-0, Abbai Habte was able to break free of defenders, but was fouled in the box and awarded a penalty kick. Habte buried the shot into the open right corner, securing a 1-0 victory for the Pipers and guaranteeing them a place in the MIAC playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Hamline is currently ranked fifth in the conference with 16 total points, while Gustavus stands in eighth place with nine points. Saturday’s meeting will be the 62nd between Gustavus and Hamline in men’s soccer. The Gusties hold the advantage in the all-time series with a 55-2-4 record against the Pipers. When these two teams last met, Gustavus earned a 4-0 win on Nov. 1, 2014 in St. Paul.