NORTHFIELD, Minn. – A late goal from sophomore Kymani Chitulangoma salved a 1-1 tie for the No. 19-ranked St. Olaf College men's soccer team against Luther College on Tuesday afternoon at Rolf Mellby Field.

In a game where both teams struggled to create scoring chances for the majority of the 90 minutes, Luther (3-2-1) scored a rebound off a penalty kick in the 80th minute to take a late lead, which barely lasted three minutes before Chitulangoma was on hand at the back post to finish off a cross from junior Ryan Bechtel for St. Olaf (7-1-2).

Earlier in the day, the Oles returned to the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll and both teams were ranked in the Region IX Poll. St. Olaf rose up to No. 2 in the region, while Luther checked in at No. 6. The tie marked the second consecutive 1-1 result between the two programs over the last two seasons.

After a scoreless first half that lacked clear-cut scoring opportunities, senior Jack Hobday was called into action five minutes into the second half and rushed off his line to thwart Francesco Mungari, who got through on goal. With 10 minutes to play, Hobday again denied Mungari, this time from the penalty spot, but Matthew Sale scored on the rebound to break the deadlock.

St. Olaf responded quickly on Chitulangoma's team-leading fifth goal of the season, as the sophomore arrived at the back post to score off Bechtel's cross, with senior Caspar Olseth also earning an assist on the goal. Bechtel's assist was his eighth of the season, moving him into a tie for the most assists in the country at the NCAA Division III level.

Sophomore Jack Soares had a chance to win it for the Oles in the 86th minute but saw his left-footed shot hit the right post and stay out after a mixup at the back by the Norse created an opening for Soares.

The two teams combined for 27 shots in the game – 17 for St. Olaf and 10 for Luther – but just nine were on goal. The Norse held a 5-4 edge in shots on goal, with Hobday making four saves and Aitor Lopez three.

The Oles will return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play with a trip to Duluth to face the College of St. Scholastica on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.