MADISON, Wis. – The third-ranked St. Olaf College men's soccer team got an early goal from junior
Charlie Piller to claim a 1-0 non-conference victory over Edgewood University on Sunday afternoon at Edgewood University Field at Reddan Park.
In the first meeting between the two programs since 1999, Piller's 11th-minute goal was the difference to give St. Olaf (3-0-0) the win over Edgewood (0-1-2) for its third consecutive victory to start the season. The Oles were ranked No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, while the Eagles, who made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, received votes in the national poll.
Piller provided the game's only goal in the 11th minute, curling the ball into the lower-right corner from the top of the box after juniors
Riker Doolittle and
Jack Soares combined to get the ball to Piller. The goal was Piller's first of the season and the 10th of his career, while Doolittle and Soares both earned their first assists of the season.
The Oles outshot the Eagles by a 23-8 margin in the game, although shots on goal were just 6-4 in St. Olaf's favor. The closest either team came to a goal after Piller's opener came in the 53rd minute, when senior
Ryan Bechtel hit the woodwork in the top-left corner of the goal with a left-footed shot from the right side of the box.
Junior
Beckett Carlson stopped all four shots he faced, two of which came in the final two-plus minutes, to claim his second consecutive shutout for the Oles. Ezra Wallace made five saves in the loss for the hosts.
St. Olaf will host Carroll University at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Rolf Mellby Field.
