NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women's soccer team has earned the No. 6 seed in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs and will travel to No. 3 seed Augsburg University on Tuesday afternoon in the quarterfinals.
The Oles earned their second-straight berth in the MIAC Playoffs after finishing the regular season 10-5-2 overall and 6-4-1 in conference, including a 1-0 victory over top-seeded St. Thomas. St. Olaf will face the third-seeded Auggies on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. in Minneapolis in a rematch of Saturday's regular-season finale, which Augsburg won, 2-0. Fans unable to make it to Minneapolis can watch the
game live online or follow the
live stats.
The winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal will travel to St. Paul to take on No. 2 seed Bethel at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The other quarterfinal on Tuesday pits No. 5 seed Saint Benedict at No. 4 seed St. Catherine, with the winner advancing to take on No. 1 seed St. Thomas.
St. Olaf is making its fifth overall appearance in the MIAC Playoffs, which started in 2003. The Oles made appearances in 2004, 2012, 2013 and 2017, falling in their first game in each season. Augsburg and St. Olaf are meeting in the MIAC Playoffs for the second time, with the Auggies posting a 2-1 semifinal victory in 2012 in Northfield.
St. Olaf boasts the MIAC's second-best defense this season, posting a 0.73 goals-against average by allowing just 13 goals in 17 games. The Oles have seven shutouts this season, which is the third-highest total in the conference behind Augsburg and St. Thomas (10 each).
Sophomore goalkeeper
Brynne Davis is 8-5-2 in 15 starts with a 0.72 goals-against average and .849 save percentage, ranking third in the MIAC in GAA and fifth in save percentage. Senior
Kaylyn Billmeyer, sophomore
Rose Sandell and first-year
Aubrey Sewell have each started at least 15 games in the back line.
Offensively, St. Olaf is led by junior
Mackenzie Schoustra, who has tallied 11 of the Oles' 25 goals this season. Schoustra ranks fifth in the MIAC in goals (11) and points (28) and second in shots (75) and game-winning goals (7). Her 11 goals and 28 points are the most by an Ole since Lindsay Howard had 14 goals and 36 points in 2009.
Junior
Claire Bash and senior
Emily Lecy are tied for second on the team in goals (4), assists (2) and points (10), while six other Oles have found the back of the net and seven have provided an assist.
St. Olaf has been regionally ranked by United Soccer Coaches, checking in at a season-high No. 8 last week. The Oles were on the outside looking in of last week's NCAA North Region Rankings, which are used to determine the field for the NCAA Tournament.
