St. Olaf men’s soccer continues to make history. Following their 3-2 victory at Gustavus Adolphus College in the final of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoffs, the Oles became the first school to win the MIAC playoffs in three consecutive years. This achievement comes less than a year after the team won the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship, the first MIAC school to ever do so.
Ryan Bechtel ’27 opened the scoring in the first half, finishing a brilliant cross by Clemente Arcuch Puig ’23. The Gusties, ranked 4th in the nation, tied the match towards the end of the first half, but, 15 minutes into the second half, Puig scored a 20-yard screamer into the top right corner to retake St. Olaf’s lead. Gustavus equalized the match 12 minutes later, when Owen Johnson pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box. Three minutes later, St. Olaf was awarded a penalty following a Gustavus handball when defending a Dimitri Nair ’26 cross. Robi Buzakovic ’26 calmly converted the penalty, which proved to be the decisive kick of the match. Gustavus continued to probe at goalkeeper Jack Hobday ’26, but St. Olaf held on to give the Gusties their first defeat of the season.
It has been an exceptional run for St. Olaf men’s soccer since 2021. Holding a win-loss-tie percentage of .788, the Oles have won or shared first place in three of the last four MIAC regular seasons. And, as mentioned earlier, men’s soccer is the first school to win the MIAC playoffs three seasons in a row. In 2023, St. Olaf capped off its recent success with the ultimate prize when, led by head coach Justin Oliver in his first season, the Oles defeated Amherst College in the Division III national championship game.
The 2024 season has been one of ups and downs. After losing multiple key seniors, including three-time All-American Victor Gaulmin ’23 and the two goalscorers in the national championship game, Hakeem Morgan ’23 and Casey McCloskey ’23, men’s soccer started the season losing three of their first five games. In their last 16 games, however, the resilient Oles have lost only once, including going undefeated in the MIAC regular season and playoffs.
St. Olaf men’s soccer now looks to defend its national championship. In the first round of the Division III national tournament, the Oles play the Wartburg College Knights in Northfield Minn. at Rolf Mellby Field on Saturday, Nov. 16. All matches will be streamed on ncaa.com.
