Johnnie soccer starts season off hot; 8-1 after opening MIAC play

The St. John’s soccer team has seen a successful start to their 2026 season. After nine games, their record stands at 8-1 with a combined total of three goals let up, two of those coming in a shutout loss to Gustavus. St. John’s received votes in the last United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Men’s Rankings. Junior forward and captain Ronan O’Connor attributed much of the team’s success to the coaching staff and how they have helped the returning players, the transfers, and the new recruits get adjusted and
have the most success possible.

“The team’s early success is largely due to the coaching staff,” O’Connor said. “They have done an amazing job preparing the returning players for this season and have done an excellent job of bringing in many very talented freshman recruits and transfers.”

The Johnnies’ high scoring start, coupled with their strong defensive play, has the team encouraged for what the rest of the season will bring, according to junior Thomas Theising.

“The team is super proud of how we started, only conceding three goals is a really good sign for where this program is headed,” Theising said.

One focus for the team through this part of the season has been learning to rely on each other and incorporating the new additions to the roster as seamlessly as possible.

“A big focus for us since a lot of the team is freshmen just getting used to playing with new people and learning player tendencies so that we are a more successful team early on in the season,” Theising said.

The Johnnies have seen big contributions from their first-year class, as six of their top 10 scorers through nine games are first-years, with four of them finding themselves in the top five.

“The underclassmen are a huge majority of the team this year and it’s super cool seeing their willingness to take criticism and want to improve themselves on the field and off,” Thiesing said.

An ALL-MIAC honoree from the 2025 season, O’Connor was ranked fourth in the entire nation in goals scored with 20 and seventh in goals per game with 0.95; he said that this year he hopes to perform better in the team’s bigger games.

“My personal goal this season is to score more goals in important games against nationally ranked opponents and in knockout stage playoff games,” O’Connor said.

After wrapping up the majority of their non-conference schedule, the Johnnies are looking ahead to the bulk of their MIAC competition remaining this year. St. Olaf ranks as the No. 1 team in the nation and the Johnnies were recognized nationally being ranked No. 20 in the country after their 7-0 unbeaten streak to open the season. The Oles, along with Macalester, Augsburg and Gustavus, all made the NCAA Tournament last season.

“One big thing that we are all looking forward to is the rest of MIAC play. We play really good teams at the end of the season and we can’t wait,” Theising said.

The Johnnies currently hold a record of 8-1 after an 11-1 win over North Central University at home, which saw SJU play down a man after receiving a red card in the thirteenth minute of the game. The team takes on the Tigers of Colorado College on Saturday in Omaha, Neb. with the game being hosted by Creighton University.