(Photo courtesy of David Faulkner, SPX Sports)
SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s soccer team is set to compete in the NCAA Championships Saturday as it takes on Colorado College in the first round, hosted by North Park University in Chicago, Ill. The Gusties and Tigers kick off at 3:30 p.m., which follows North Park and Pacific Lutheran at 1 p.m. The two winners face each other at 3 p.m. Sunday.
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Gusties in the NCAA Tournament
Gustavus is making its 13th overall and second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. Last season, the Gusties made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014, falling to Dominican (Ill.) 2-0.
Scouting the Gusties
Gustavus enters the tournament 17-3 overall and put up a 9-1 mark in conference. Through 20 games, Gustavus boasts the third highest scoring offense in the nation with an average of 3.60 goals per game, while they allow 0.95. Cole Schwartz has been the team’s top point-getter notching 53 points, the most of any Gustie since 1975, on 23 goals and seven assists. Raphael Cattelin (49 points) and Matt Gibbons (30 points) have also been big pieces with Cattelin totaling 17 goals and 15 assists, while Gibbons has eight goals and 14 assists. Wesley Sanders has started all 20 games in net for the Black and Gold, making 66 saves while allowing 19 goals for a save percentage of .776.
Scouting the Tigers
Colorado College enters the weekend 14-6 overall, finishing 8-1 in conference play. Through 20 games, the Tigers average 2.45 goals a game while allowing 1.30. Griffin Meyer (11g, 2a) and Sam Bermingham (7g, 9a) lead the offense with 24 and 23 points, respectively. Keleher Felton has been the top keeper for Colorado College, starting nine games, making 38 saves and allowing six goals, for a save percentage of .864.
Scoutig the Lutes
Pacific Lutheran finished the regular season 14-4-2 overall and 11-1-2 conference play. The Lutes, who come in averaging 2.55 goals per game while allowing 0.80, have a trio of players up front that have been troublesome for opposing defenses. Keeton Heggerness (15 g, 3a), Zak Gregg (15g, 2a), and Jackson Moore (9g, 5a) have tallied 33, 32, and 23 points respectively for PLU. Cole Weaver has been tough in net for the Lutes, making 59 saves while allowing 13 goals in 19 starts for a save percentage of .819.
Scouting the Vikings
North Park comes into the tournament with a 15-4-1 overall record and 6-1-1 mark in conference. The Vikings come in averaging 2.60 goals per game and allow 0.95. Peder Olsen leads the attack with 19 goals and six assists for 44 points, while William Sandkvist and Gianfranco DeCarne have 20 and 19 points, respectively. Mathias Stulen has started 18 matchers in net, making 35 saves while allowing 17 goals for a save percentage of .673.