CHICAGO, Ill. – Junior
Lucas Montera's free kick in the 31st minute was enough for the third-ranked St. Olaf College men's soccer team to down the No. 20-ranked University of Chicago 1-0 in a top-20 matchup on Friday afternoon at Stagg Field.
After Montera bent in a free kick from roughly 30 yards out in the first half, St. Olaf (2-0-0) made the goal hold up to shut out UChicago (1-1-0) for the second time in as many seasons. The win was just the second for the Oles in eight all-time meetings with the Maroons, with the only previous victory coming in the Sectional Final on St. Olaf's way to the 2023 NCAA Division III national championship.
With the victory, St. Olaf improved to 11-2-3 in its last 16 games against nationally-ranked teams and to 4-1-2 in its last seven games on the road against ranked foes. The Oles were ranked No. 3 in this year's United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, while the Maroons were No. 20.
In a game that started with temperatures in the high 70s but had real-feel temperatures that reached 105 late on, UChicago outshot St. Olaf by a 20-5 margin overall, although the shots on goal count was even at 3-3. The loss ended the Maroons' 10-game unbeaten streak at home that dated back to the start of the 2025 season and was the first time UChicago was shut out at Stagg Field since a 0-0 tie against Case Western Reserve University on Oct. 25, 2024.
Montera provided the decisive moment for St. Olaf in the 31st minute by sending a free kick from about 30 yards out on the left side into the top-left corner. The goal was the second in as many games this season for the junior, who scored once in each of his first two collegiate seasons.
The Oles nearly doubled their lead in the final seconds of the opening half, but junior
Kymani Chitulangoma's header shortly after a corner kick went over the goal. UChicago outshot St. Olaf by a 14-1 margin in the second half but was unable to find an equalizer.
Junior
Beckett Carlson recorded the fourth shutout of his career by stopping all three shots on goal he faced. Carlson's biggest save was a diving effort in the 74th minute to stop Timothy Ratokhin's effort from near the penalty spot.
The Maroons were inches away from an equalizer in the 87th minute when Evan Kanellos' shot hit went bar down and did not cross the line. UChicago implemented a coach's challenge on the play, but the call stood. St. Olaf also challenged a no-call in the other box earlier in the half that stood as a no-call upon review.
The Oles will head to Madison, Wis. for a 12 p.m. kickoff against Edgewood University on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Eagles received votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll.
