Four men’s soccer players were named to the MIAC All-Conference team for the 2007 season. Senior forward Mike Butterworth (Katy, Tex.) was named the MIAC’s Most Valuable Player and earned all-conference honors for the second consecutive year. Senior midfielder Jack Underwood (Fergus Falls, Minn.), junior defender Flynn Stewart-Franzen (Minneapolis, Minn.), and sophomore Fraser Horton (Missoula, Mont.) were also named to the first team.
Butterworth, an NSCAA All-West region selection in 2006, spent the 2007 season as an offensive threat for a Gustie offense that was fourth in the MIAC in goals scored with 36, including 15 in conference play. He led the team with 15 goals and 33 points and is tied for eighth place all-time on the Gustavus career goals list with 26. Butterworth is also tied for eighth on the Gustavus career points list with 67. He was named MIAC Player of the Week on November 6, 2007 by scoring a goal in each MIAC playoff victory. Butterworth is the fourth Gustie player in school history to be named MIAC MVP. Scott Crowell was named MVP in 2000, current Gustie assistant coach Joe Hartwell was named MVP 2004, and Bobby Kroog was named MVP in 2005.
Senior Jack Underwood, junior Flynn Stewart-Franzen, and sophomore Fraser Horton were all first-time all-conference honorees. Underwood recorded an assist this season and was a solid defensive midfielder helping Gustavus post 15 shutouts. Underwood was also named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team. Stewart-Franzen posted an assist as a defender for a squad that ranked seventh nationally with a 0.44 goals against average. Horton compiled two goals and seven points during the season, including the game-winning overtime goal against Bethel on October 13, 2007.
Gustavus finished 9-1-0 in the MIAC to tie Carleton for the league title, and ended the season 16-4-1 overall. The Gusties won the MIAC playoffs for the fourth time in the past five years and earned an automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships. Gustavus suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to Whitworth University in the first round of the tournament in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.