Box ScoreST. PAUL, Minn. – A thrilling goal from Saint John's senior
Robert Deetz (Owatonna, Minn.) with 50 seconds left in overtime gave the Johnnies a 2-1 win over No. 23 St. Thomas on Wednesday, Sept. 16, in St. Paul.
Deetz blasted a shot from just outside the box and the UST goalkeeper, Grant Larson, jumped high to make the save, but the ball rolled off his fingertips behind him and over the line. Larson jumped back, casually picked up the ball and prepared to clear the zone, but the assistant referee/linesman ruled that the ball crossed the goal line. The overtime game-winner was Deetz's second already this season.
Pierce Erickson, last week's MIAC Athlete of the Week, gave UST (4-1, 0-1 MIAC) a quick 1-0 lead only 1:52 into the match.
The Tommies entered the game ranked third in the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) North Region rankings, ahead of Gustavus Adolphus (No. 4) and SJU (No. 5). Both the national and regional NSCAA poll were released today.
Senior
Paul Wageman (Roseville, Minn./DeLaSalle) tied it for SJU (4-1-1, 1-0-0 MIAC) on a scramble following a Johnnie corner kick in the 80th minute (79:06). Junior
Rocky Harmon (Hudson, Wis.) assisted on the goal, which was Wageman's third of the season.
Senior
Kevin Lebahn (New Hope, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's), the reigning MIAC Athlete of the Week, made six saves in the victory.
The Johnnies return home to host two matches, their first on Haws Field since Sept. 1, this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20. SJU takes on Saint Mary's for a 2:30 p.m. contest Saturday, followed by a 1 p.m. non-conference game against Luther (Iowa) Sunday.
