Conference tournament on the horizon for the Johnnies

In a showdown this past Saturday, SJU soccer took on the nationally ranked No. 17, St. Olaf. The team fought intensely but faced defeat with a score of 4-2.

In preparation for the game, head coach John Haws worked the team specifically to face St. Olaf.

“We had a clear idea of how Olaf played and how to limit them, but also where their weaknesses were on the counter.  To know that a MIAC title was still in the balance definitely had the boys focused and engaged,” Haws said via email.

The team finished the first half leading 2-0. They accomplished this thanks to a lofted ball from Noah Hermanson, leading to an own goal and a shot from Riley Buxell just inside the left post. Buxell has scored in his last two matches and looks to continue the run.

Additionally, junior goalkeeper Evan Siefken kept his net locked down during the first half of the match.

Siefken attributes a large portion of his first half shutout and success this year to the team’s defense.

“Overall, I think we performed well compared to previous games this season. Our defense has performed astoundingly this year so far, and allowing four goals in a game is an extremely rare outlier to previous results,” Siefken said via email. “If we can find the rhythm again defensively that we have possessed throughout stretches of the season, we will look great moving forward.”

Haws also recognized the team’s spectacular first half performance and how it created danger for the rest of the match.

“The boys came out and played the first 45 minutes with incredible determination and resolve.  We recognized dangerous moments and were willing [and] able to diffuse them.  There was a competitive lull to start the second half that allowed one of the top programs in the country a foothold unfortunately,” Haws said.

St. Olaf came from behind to score four goals in the second half, including an own goal of their own. While the team led at the half, it was not enough to hold until the end.

Haws said that Saturday’s match showed him and the team what they already can accomplish and what they need to work on as they approach the MIAC tournament. He also mentioned that the match proved that the team can compete with nationally ranked teams. Focus for the team now shifts to what’s ahead, where they play a No. 4 ranked Carleton on Saturday.

Senior midfielder Matt Anderson is optimistic about this weekend’s game and moving forward into the playoffs.

“We are good enough to compete with nationally ranked teams, so we need to clean up some things and look forward to the MIAC playoffs,” Anderson said via email. “We just keep getting better.”

Haws shares this optimism about Carleton and the postseason.

“We move from a top-20 team in the country on to a top-five team in Carleton this weekend. We can play with anyone as we proved last weekend. The test with Carleton is to continue to lay claim to that reality as we enter the tournament,” Haws said. “Getting knocked down in life doesn’t define you… what you do next does. Carleton is next.”

Haws believes that the team is ready for any challenges that await in the team’s postseason. The team’s match against Carleton takes place at 3:30 this Saturday.