Saint John's University Soccer: A Battle to the End
As we approach the final stretch of our MIAC season, the situation couldn’t be more clear-cut. With a current record of 5-6-1, we find ourselves needing to win all three of our remaining fixtures to keep any hope of securing a playoff spot alive. Our upcoming matches—against St. Scholastica, St. Olaf, and Carleton—will be no walk in the park, but we have full confidence in our side’s ability and determination to get the job done.
The disappointment of our recent 3-2 defeat to Bethel has passed. Despite performing at a high level, we allowed three soft goals which ultimately cost us the game. It’s a result that stings, but one we must swiftly move beyond if we’re to achieve what we’ve set out to do. The lads have the talent—now it’s a matter of finding that belief and mental toughness that separates good teams from great ones.
Adversity is part and parcel of football. It’s in these moments of challenge that character is revealed. It would be all too easy to succumb to frustration or to feel hard done by, but that’s not the mindset we’ll adopt. Instead, we’ll embrace this adversity, using it to harden our resolve and make us stronger. Mental fortitude will be key, and it’s something we’ll need to show in abundance as we head into these crucial final games.
The truth is the lads have given their all throughout the season. There have been some great performances, some poor performances and some narrow misses, but no one can question the commitment or the effort that’s been on display. Now, we need to turn that effort into results. With three matches left, our destiny is still very much in our own hands. If we maintain our focus, keep our confidence high, and fight for every inch on the pitch, we’ve got every chance of making it to the playoffs.
We believe in this team. I believe in this team. Now it’s time to show everyone else what Saint John's University soccer is made of.
Coach Noel Quinn
Hello All,
We’re four games into the MIAC schedule, and it’s been a battle. We’ve chalked up 1 win (5-0 over St. Mary's, 2 losses (both 1-0 to Hamline and Macalester), and a hard-earned draw.
It was our last match that really showed what these boys are made of – a 2-2 draw against Augsburg, one of the toughest sides in the league.
The lads dug deep, came from behind not once, but twice, and found the back of the net with just 23 seconds on the clock. If there’s ever a match to give the players belief, this was it. The heart and determination they showed was inspiring.
This performance is a signal of what’s to come. The players are starting to realize they can go toe-to-toe with any team in the league. We’ve got the fight, the hunger, and now, the belief.
We’ll keep pushing forward, and with your support, there’s no telling what this group can achieve. Keep cheering us on, and we’ll keep flying the flag for Saint John’s and making you proud!
Up the Johnnies!
Noel Quinn
Head Coach, Saint John’s Soccer
Dear St. John’s Soccer Alumni,
As we embark on another MIAC campaign, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on our progress. Our recent fixture against Macalester was a hard-fought contest, and while we narrowly lost 1-0, the performance showed how much we’ve grown as a squad. We created opportunities, competed well, and proved that we’re on the verge of challenging the top teams in the league.
The commitment and resolve of our side continue to impress. With a fine blend of youthful energy and experienced leadership, we started three first-year lads against Macalester, and their contributions, coupled with the guidance from our senior players, have been instrumental in driving us forward.
The impact of Evan Siefken and Brandon Morris, both on and off the pitch, has been immense. Their leadership during the tough moments and their role in fostering a tight-knit, motivated group have set the tone for the rest of the squad. They are setting the standard for the younger players, and it’s clear the future of Johnnie soccer is in excellent hands.
We now prepare for our first away match of the season against Hamline in St. Paul. The lads are focused, and we’re confident in turning this performance into positive results. Each day, we’re making strides, and I firmly believe we’re on the brink of achieving something special.
Thank you for your continued support. The legacy you’ve left behind remains a source of pride and inspiration for the next generation of Johnnie players.
Best regards,
Noel Quinn
Head Soccer Coach
Saint John’s University
REMINDER - On September 21st Join Soccer alumni and parents for a pregame social event at Lake Monster Brewing Company prior to the Hamline game from 1-3:30. Game time 3:30
Lake Monster Brewing Company - 550 Vandalia St #160, St Paul, MN 55114
Dear Saint John’s Soccer Alumni,
I’m delighted to share some good news with all of you. This past weekend, our team put together a fantastic performance and earned a 3-0 victory over St. Norbert’s College. After a tough start to the season with two narrow 1-0 losses, where we showed promise but couldn’t quite get the results we were aiming for, it was great to see the progress and hard work of the team come to fruition in this latest match.
The first two games were challenging, and while we played solid soccer, we didn’t manage to convert our performances into wins. However, I could see that the team was steadily improving, working hard in training, and starting to gel as a unit. That improvement was on full display against St. Norbert’s, where we were able to capitalize on our chances, maintain a strong defensive presence, and control the game.
I’m incredibly proud of the players and the commitment they’ve shown. We’re getting stronger with every match, and that growth gives us great confidence heading into this week’s game against the University of Minnesota Morris. After that, we’re excited to dive into MIAC play, with our first conference match against Macalester on Tuesday, September 17th. We know the MIAC is always a tough and competitive league, but I’m confident in the team’s ability to rise to the challenge.
I want to thank all of you for your unwavering support of Saint John’s soccer. The rich tradition of this program is built on the foundation laid by those who came before, and your continued belief in what we are trying to accomplish here means so much to the players and staff alike. We’re committed to making you proud and will continue working hard to represent the program with pride and passion.
Thank you again for being part of this journey with us, and we look forward to sharing more success as the season progresses.
Go Johnnies!
2024 Go Johnnies Challenge · GiveCampus
Warm regards,
Noel Quinn
Head Soccer Coach
Saint John’s University
Saint John's University Soccer Alumni Update: Opening Weekend Showdown!
Dear SJU Soccer Alumni and Supporters,
The wait is finally over! The 2024 soccer season kicks off this weekend with a pair of exciting matchups that promise to set the tone for a successful year. Our Johnnies are coming off a productive preseason scrimmage against St. Cloud State University, where we had the opportunity to fine-tune our strategies and prepare for the battles ahead.
Weekend Matchups:
● Friday, August 30th: We take on Wartburg College at 5:00 PM. Wartburg is a formidable opponent known for their physical play and disciplined defense. This game will be a true test of our team's resilience and tactical prowess.
● Sunday, September 1st: The action continues as we face off against Carroll University at 1:00 PM. Carroll brings a dynamic attacking style that will challenge our defensive organization and teamwork.
Both games will be held at our home field, and we expect nothing less than an electrifying atmosphere as our team looks to start the season on the right foot.
Preseason Recap:
Our preseason scrimmage against St. Cloud State was a valuable experience. We faced a strong and organized team, which allowed us to assess our readiness for the season. The scrimmage highlighted our strengths and identified areas where we can improve. The boys showed great energy and determination, and we're confident that these games set the foundation for a successful season.The scrimmage ended in a 1-1 scoreline.
What to Watch For:
● Key Players: Keep an eye on our returning veterans, who bring experience and leadership to the squad, as well as our talented newcomers eager to make an immediate impact.
● Tactical Adjustments: The coaching staff has been hard at work analyzing our preseason performance and making the necessary adjustments to ensure we are building to succeed in the MIAC.
● Fan Support: As always, your support plays a crucial role in our success. We encourage all alumni, students, and fans to come out and cheer on the Johnnies this weekend!
This is an exciting time for SJU Soccer, and we're thrilled to have you along for the journey. Whether you're cheering from the stands or following along from afar, your support is deeply appreciated. Let's make this season one to remember!
Go Johnnies!
SJU Soccer Coaching Staff
Supporting Johnnie soccer important dates:
· Go Johnnies! Challenge- through Sept. 12th provides direct support to the soccer program
o .https://www.givecampus.com/schools/SaintJohnsUniversity/2024-go-johnnies-challenge/pages/soccer
· Soccer Alumni/Parents Social- September 21st Join Soccer alumni and parents for a pre-game social at Lake Monster Brewing Company prior to the Hamline game from 1-3:30. Game time 3:30
o Lake Monster Brewing Company - 550 Vandalia St #160, St Paul, MN 55114
As the new soccer season approaches, I am thrilled to share my enthusiasm and anticipation for leading the Saint John's University soccer team. This fall promises to be an exhilarating journey, filled with determination, hard work, and a shared commitment to excellence. Our team is gearing up to represent our school with pride, and we are eager to make our mark on the field.
We are fortunate to have a talented pool of players this year. Each member of the team brings unique skills, unwavering dedication, and a hunger for success. Their motivation to excel is palpable, and it fuels our collective ambition to achieve great things this season. From the first whistle to the final whistle, our players are ready to give their all, showcasing their prowess, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
One of the most exciting aspects of this season is the opportunity to engage with our esteemed alumni. The legacy of Saint John's University soccer is rich and storied, and we are committed to honoring that tradition. The support of our alumni is invaluable, and we look forward to seeing them at our games, cheering us on, and sharing in the excitement. Your presence and encouragement mean the world to our players and coaching staff, and it serves as a reminder of the enduring bond that ties us all together.
As we embark on this season, we are not just playing for ourselves but for the entire Saint John's community. We are united by a common goal: to make this season a memorable and successful one. With hard work, dedication, and the unwavering support of our fans and alumni, we are confident that we will achieve greatness.
Here's to a fantastic season ahead! Go Johnnies!
Noel Quinn
We just got back from a successful weekend in California. We won our four team tournament with Macalester, Cal Lutheran, and UC Santa Cruz by posting a 1-1 come from behind tie with Cal Lutheran and a 2-0 victory over the Banana Slugs of Santa Cruz. We grew into both matches by leaning on our opponents with our deep bench and willingness to put in work until the moments when our quality could show in the final third. I am extremely happy with the way the boys have competed thus far and the second half stats in our opening three games give clear evidence of their belief in our approach.
It is our Go Johnnies Challenge Give Day tomorrow. Without the continued support we get each year from our extended Johnnie Soccer Family, I would not have been able to even consider an amazing weekend like we just had. This year we have an incredible group that has come together to create a $100 match for each of the first 100 donors. . .$10,000! An additional $50 per donor will be kicked to the program for the first 20 donors that jump into action as well. I want to send a huge thank you out to Terry Leiendecker, Mike “Jens” & Kristi Jensen, Erin & David Anderson, Jeff Lendino, Jim Byrne, John Moynihan, and Patrick & Mary Ann Haws for creating such a great incentive for others to support the Family.
Please, consider helping us continue to provide a premier college soccer experience to the boys by making a donation to the program!
Our Family vs. their team,
John
Here are a few opportunities to connect with your Johnnie brothers this spring.
March 15 from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Johnnie Standup 2022
Allianz Field, Stadium Club
April 23 at 3:00 PM
Johnnie Soccer Alumni Game
Haws Field or Gagliardi Field (weather dependent)
May 18 at 7:00 PM
MNUFC vs. LA Galaxy (group ticketing info to follow)
Allianz Field
We are fully within the decision window with recruits as the financial aid picture has recently come into focus for many of them. As of right now we have 11 committed student-athletes and multiple extremely talented young men leaning our way. The boys and I are excited about who is returning and how some of the new faces will boost our results next fall!
Our Family vs. their team,
John
And the award goes to. . .
We had our banquet last week and I wanted to quickly relay who the boys voted to honor this year.
Reserve MVP: Paddy Genereau (Frosh from Sturgeon Lake, MN)
Unsung Hero: #33 Cavin Allen (Senior from Excelsior, MN—He is coming back to play next fall)
Rookie of the Year: #24 Evan Siefken (Frosh from Lakeville, MN—He was also All-MIAC HM and 3rd Team All-Region)
Hardest Worker: #21 Kevin Stark-Haws (Senior from Cold Spring, MN—He is also returning for one last season next fall)
Most Improved: #21 Kevin Stark-Haws (His hard work has paid off)
Terry Leiendecker Award—Formerly the Outstanding Christian Athlete award but Terry won it four years in a row during his illustrious career: #18 Drew Engel (Senior from De Pere, WI—He is returning too)
Golden Boot: #23 Tommy Picka with 4 goals & 6 assists (Senior from Victoria, MN—He was also All-MIAC HM)
Goal of the Year: #23 Tommy Picka’s game winner from #2 Brian Real and #21 Kevin Stark-Haws in OT at Gustavus in the playoffs
MVP: #45 Matt Anderson (Junior from Omaha, NE—He was also 1st Team All MIAC)
Though not a team award, #25 Aidan Becken (Junior from Prior Lake, MN) was named our program’s fourth Academic All-American this fall as well as being named All-MIAC HM.
I hope everyone in the extended Johnnie Soccer Family has a wonderful and safe Christmas season.
Our Family vs. their team,
John
This past week we were able to take full points in two dramatic MIAC matches against Bethel and Hamline. Our next tilt is at Macalester this Saturday. We currently share identical 4-3 MIAC records as we are jockeying for the best possible playoff seeding. In hopes of gaining even more road support Adam Herbst, from Institutional Advancement, has set up a pregame gathering place for our fans, alums, and parents prior to our 12:30 kickoff.
Where: Davanni’s (41 Cleveland Ave. S., Saint Paul)
When: Saturday, October 23rd from 10:30am-12:30pm
Bits and bobs:
We lead the league in goals against through the first 7 conference matches as we have only conceded 6.
We are currently ranked #6 in Region IX.
I hope to see you Saturday!
Our Family vs. their team,
John
We are coming off of a pivotal win against a previously undefeated Augsburg side this past weekend. The Auggies came into the match conceding only 3 goals in their first 9 games including a 6-game shutout streak that we ended early in the match. An interesting side note is that Tommy Picka, pictured above, transferred to us from Augsburg. He had the game winner and assisted on the third goal as well.
As you know there are no days off in the current MIAC landscape. We host St. Olaf this Saturday at 4:00 for our homecoming game. They just jumped to #22 nationally. The match has obvious conference ramifications, but it also could be an important asset for us in NCAA at-large considerations should we not take the MIAC automatic bid. The conference has done quite well regionally which opens the door to possible at-large bids for those that separate themselves down the stretch. We own a healthy 2-1-1 record against those ranked in the region with Olaf and Carleton upcoming.
Terry Leiendecker (VIDEO) will be inducted into the J-Club Hall of Honor after our St. Olaf match. REGISTER HERE The feats mentioned in the linked video are truly inspiring. His influence on the program continues to this day as the boys award one of their teammates the sought after Terry Leiendecker Award each fall. It was previously called the Outstanding Christian Athlete Award, but then Terry won it 4 years in a row making the transition to his namesake an obvious one.
As always, let me know if there is a young man that we should be recruiting. I’ve gotten many great leads from our extended Johnnie Soccer Family.
Our Family vs. their team,
John
We just completed tryouts last night, so our rosters are set just in time for our five matches over the next nine days.
September 1st, 4pm @St. Scholastica
September 4th, 4pm vs. UW-Platteville (Home Opener after football)
September 5th, 2pm RESERVES vs. Bethel
September 6th, 4:30pm vs. Puget Sound
September 8th, 5pm vs. St. Cloud State
On top of our game schedule, on Thursday we will be holding our annual department-wide Go Johnnies Challenge. Once again, we are asking for your support. During last year’s challenge, we raised over $16,000.00 with 122 donors for Johnnie Soccer! We’d love to surpass those marks this year!
Here are the three main ways that you can support the boys on our give day:
Support the soccer program through a simple donation. (set SOCCER as the designation)
Become an advocate and encourage and promote the event on any social media outlets.
Set up a matching gift that will encourage others to donate.
Make sure to set SOCCER as the matching designation
Enter dollar amount and decide if you will make the full gift if the match is not completely met (check box)
Select “Other,” enter a dollar pledge amount, and check the “Per Donor” box
Select the “Match a designation” box and select the designation you want to match
*you can also just call/email me and I can facilitate the match from my end
I want to thank you all for supporting the Johnnie Soccer Family in whatever ways you can.
Our Family vs. their team,
John
Swag & Swagger
I have had a few alums tell me that their navy-blue hoody is a little worse for wear these days. Here is your annual chance to upgrade your look while supporting the program. You will see a lot of the same items as previous iterations, but we’ve added a replica home jersey this year. My kids all ordered #18 claiming it was inspired by some washed-up has-been that played in the late 90’s. Go to www.johnniegear.com and use the passcode SJUSOCFAN21. The store will be open through this Sunday.
Our boys are making their way back to Collegeville in just over a month in far different circumstances than the uncertainty we faced last summer. Nothing is better than crisp fall matches late in October with a shot at a title within grasp. We have a great group of returners and some fresh faces that fully intend to make a charge this fall!
Our Family vs. their team,
John
I came into this give day hopefully optimistic that we may be able to approximate the incredible support all of you showed back in April of 2019 when we rolled out our first Go Johnnies Challenge Give Day. In the inaugural year we drew $16, 195 from 102 donors. I also harbored some trepidation as the world has been everything but stable so far in 2020.
The entire soccer family is incredibly thankful to be able to announce that 123 of you supported us last Thursday when we raised a staggering $17,813! Please, take a scroll over the donors to see who stepped up this time around! There were two off-line gifts made totaling $2000 that aren’t reflected on the give site in case you notice the discrepancy. We are absolutely blown away and in awe of the support. Moments like this bring to mind one of our core values.
We are thankful for what we have been given, mindful of who has been here before us, and understand the responsibility to protect and improve what has been built for those that will follow.
When we talk about this appreciation it includes things that many of you embedded in the program through your hard work, like our tradition of excellence on the pitch and in the classroom, but it also conjures the generous gifts so many of you have made, including Haws Field, and the ongoing support through donations to the program each year. This core value is coupled with the bedrock Benedictine Value of Stewardship during our team discussions.
We are humbled by your support and we thank each of you!
Our Family vs. their team,
John
We are now a week into our fall season, and it has been incredible to share the beautiful game again with the Family. Due to Covid protocols there are many things that are different right now. The biggest change is that we won’t have matches this fall, but we are working on the logistics of a MIAC schedule for this spring. In order to start training safely, we are spending our first 14 days together in pods of no more than 11 student-athletes. On recommendation from Danny Bruckbauer ’18 we are calling this Poddy Training. We’ve named our five pods POD Stewart, Harry PODder, Paul PODba, Dennis PODman, and Dad POD (5 members pictured above prior to running the Yo Yo Test).
Once the initial 14-day phase is over we will, assuming we have collectively avoided Covid, be able to begin more traditional training with the entire group. Because of the limited pod numbers the workload has been incredibly high thus far. We have been spending full training sessions in 3v3 or 4v4 situations which are incredibly taxing as you know. Once we transition to full practices, we will begin to aim toward 5-6 red/white scrimmages in hopes of finding focus in a full fall of training without outside competition.
In other news, our lead assistant coach, Noel Quinn, was just named the MN United’s Director of Youth Development. When he first told me that this opportunity had presented itself, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop regarding his ability to actively helping the program. He was quick to ease my mind by telling me he had every intent to continue. There is not another assistant coach in the country as qualified and passionate as Noel!
One of the primary reasons I felt I could approach Noel about joining the staff a year ago was due to our wildly successful Go Johnnies Challenge fundraising event in the spring of 2019. We had over 100 donors gift the program in excess of $16,000. That level of support allowed a paradigm shift from trying to make ends meet to the luxury of expanding the soccer experience for the boys. Due to Covid we aborted our give day last spring, but we are cranking it back up for this Thursday. If you are in a position to help, please check out the info below about options for supporting our 2020 Go Johnnies Challenge!
We currently have a $40 per donor match (for the first 100) in place due to the generosity of Mike & Sue Scherer, Patrick & Mary Ann Haws, and Matt & Jenna Haws. Jennifer and I have again opted in with a $5 per donor match ourselves as well.
Our Family vs. their team,
John
There are several ways you can support:
Support the soccer family through a simple donation. Make sure to set soccer as the designation. DONATE
Become an advocate and encourage and promote the event on any social media outlets. ADVOCATE Any advocate that generates 3 donations will get a “Johnnie Strong” shirt sent their direction.
If so inclined, set up a matching gift that will encourage others to donate. Make sure to set soccer as the matching designation. MATCHING GIFT
a. Enter dollar amount and decide if you will make the full gift regardless If the match is not complete met (check box)
b. Select “Other” and enter a dollar amount to give and check the “Per donor” box
c. Select the Match a designation box and select the designation you want to match
d. Fill out the rest of the form.
Our summer swag store is open through this Saturday. Head to www.JohnnieGear.com and type in the passcode SJUSOCCERALUM20.
I’ve been hoping to send out updates about what the fall season will look like in response to COVID-19. Each time I’ve made an attempt the info is almost immediately inaccurate. We are going to play and to do so we are going to have to accept some change…of that much I am certain. I will loop everyone in as decisions are made and plans are laid.
Our Family vs. their team,
John
The world has sure changed since I last pushed out a blog post. Our students have left campus and are continuing their spring coursework online for the remainder of the semester. Our winter sports had their seasons gut wrenchingly and abruptly ended while our spring sports have been cancelled. Decades ago I had sport pulled from me and I know how crushing this is especially for our senior student-athletes. They all recognize there are more significant realities right now to mourn but they should not feel guilty for their sense of loss of something into which they have invested heavily for years.
Paul Wadsworth, a junior all-conference center mid for us this past fall, was faced with a uniquely difficult decision with the request to vacate campus. His parents live in Tacoma, WA which is one of the areas initially hardest hit with COVID-19. Our campus is willing to continue to house students with unique situations like Paul’s, but he opted to head to Connecticut to stay with his grandparents. He took time to quarantine for their safety and is now sharing in cooking duties and playing a lot of cribbage with his grandparents.
Within the Soccer Family we also had four student-athletes studying abroad (Spain and England) that have had to return home. Each is nearing the end of their 14-day quarantine and working to come to grips with their abbreviated experiences.
In lieu of our spring practices the coaches and the boys have been hopping on weekly team Zoom meetings to connect with each other. The need for normalcy and human interaction is evident within the team as we had all but 2-3 guys on the last meeting. We have talked about soccer, recruiting, solo training, helping neighbors, and I even learned that the vast majority of the boys have not seen the movie “Hoosiers.” I’m hoping that some have remedied that by our next call.
Here are some brief updates and info:
-Our April 11 MN United alum outing has been pushed back to whatever date that the game is rescheduled for by the MLS. Stay tuned for how we will manage this for those that bought tickets but may not be able to make the new date work.
-The alumni game set for April 19th has been cancelled.
-Our 27th annual Early Bird fundraiser camp has been cancelled—this usually nets us $3-4,000.
-Our April 2nd Go Johnnies Challenge has been officially postponed. Due to your generosity we made over $16,000 on our 2019 give day last spring which we parlayed into hiring Noel Quinn. We will likely set a fall date for the Challenge. This is absolutely the right decision, but it does pose a unique challenge for fall sports as we must make our financial decisions (coaches, scheduling, etc.) well in advance of the season. As an example, I just opted to drop one game from next fall’s schedule. Though there will be no outwardly visible viral campaign, the Go Johnnies Challenge site will remain open through April 2nd for anyone that has the means and desire to support the Family in these uncertain times.
I’m washing my hands; you be safe!
Our Family vs. their team,
John
Johnnie Soccer Alumni,
As I sit here in minus 15 degree weather it is almost hard to imagine that any sane person would move back to live in this state! Well, my family and I made the decision to move back to the land of 10,000 lakes after spending almost 20 years in Baltimore, MD. One of the main reasons we moved back was to be closer to family and our longtime friends.
This fall I had the opportunity to reconnect with a few of my fellow close Johnnie Soccer alums at a game vs Augsburg and in doing so started to wonder how we have all lost touch. I loved getting to spend quality time reconnecting with guys who gave it their all on the field and if you hung with me off the field you can remember giving more than your all during many late nights…studying of course.
I know we all have commitments with family, kid’s sports, work etc. so I understand the sometimes getting up to see a match in Collegeville can be a challenge. That is why we felt it might be a good opportunity for the Johnnie Soccer Alums to get together and watch an MNUFC game at Allianz field this spring. Eric Hendrickson was kind enough through his connections with the Loons to reserve a large block of 51 tickets for the game vs. the LA Galaxy on Saturday, April 11th @ 7pm CST. We have seats directly behind the goal/brew hall for $30. For those so inclined, we will start “railgating” at 5:00 at Surly Brewing. Parking there is free and then we can hop the Light Rail to Allianz.
Click here to buy your tickets soon as they will go fast!
This is going to be a Johnnie Soccer Alum event only this time around, so no families due to the limited number of tickets. If we can get a good group together, I’d like to look at bringing our families up later this fall on a bus to root on the good guys in RED!!!!
Kevin Kohnen
Johnnie Soccer ‘01
The soccer program has now gone on four international tours. We have been to Ireland, France, Spain, and we just added Italy to that list. The NCAA allows a program to travel internationally as often as every third year and we have enthusiastically taken each opportunity for the past 6 years. We had 27 student-athletes and 21 parents, coaches, and supporters soak in what Florence, Rome, and the surrounding areas had to offer.
A writeup of the entire tour would take pages, so forgive me for simply offering bullet points of highlights:
- Seeing boys from the team seeking out Bottecelli’s “Birth of Venus” at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence because they had learned about it in art history—I love the liberal arts
- Our foggy Tuscan drive to Troghi for our 1st match (4-0 win) against ASD Vigor—CLICK FOR GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Walking the winding cobblestone streets of Siena and seeing the boys take advice from the basketball team (they were there in May) by renting bicycles to tour Lucca—two absolute gems not to be missed
- Body surfing in the frigid Mediterranean Sea with a number of the boys on our half day in Viareggio
- Getting a police escort to and from the Bologna Stadium for the Derby dell'Appennino because they thought we were visiting Fiorentina fans—a game tying free kick for the home side in the 94th minute sent the stands into hysterics
- The boys physically moving a parked car to help our bus driver get around a tight corner—they seemingly park anywhere they want in Italy
- Rome—it is truly overwhelming feeling the history and taking in the sights
- The boys attempting to stream “Gladiator” on a hotel TV after visiting the Colosseum
- A group of six making the extra effort to get into Rome VERY early to see Pope Francis
- Our second match got a bit heated with ASD Tor Sapienza en-route to a 3-1 win—this included the most stereotypical sounding Italian rant and hand gestures from one of their defenders directed at our bench as he was being held back by his players
Let me know if you have interest in learning more about our next tour. We will likely pick the destination in early 2022 for a January 2023 tour. I have heard whispers from the frosh about Argentina, Egypt, and Germany as possible destinations. It would be amazing on multiple fronts to have alumni join us!
Lastly, mark your calendars for the Alumni Game which will be at 1pm on Sunday, April 19th in the Skalicky Dome.
OUR FAMILY vs. their team,
John Haws
We ended the regular season with a solid 3-0 performance against Carleton on Saturday. The last time they lost by 3 was in 2016. Freshman Matt Anderson scored two and senior Kagan Foster had a goal and two assists in the effort. Payton Spencer cleaned things up between the sticks for the shutout. With some help from other MIAC games on Saturday we earned a home game with the #4 seed in the MIAC tournament. We kickoff at 2pm tomorrow.
Here are some quick hits:
--We led the MIAC in scoring (27 goals & 26 assists)
--We had the lowest number of yellow cards in the MIAC (6)
--Kagan Foster was the #2 scorer in MIAC play (7 goals & 3 assists) in only 9 games
--Since shaking up our back line and holding mid we allowed only one goal (a PK) in 180 minutes against Superior (14-3-2, UMAC Champions) and Carleton (13-4-1, MIAC 3rd place).
--Correction: Carleton has made the playoffs the past 8 years—sorry for the fake news last post!
OUR FAMILY vs. their team,
John Haws
The top six teams make the MIAC tournament and it usually takes 15 points to punch your ticket. We stalled at 12 points for three conference games, but we just got that elusive fifth win at Bethel on Tuesday! Seniors Patrick Erredge and Ben Becker netted goals in a hard fought 2-1 victory for the boys in red. The relief was palpable as the final whistle blew. No one in the league has made the playoffs more times in the last eight seasons than your Johnnies!
We host Carleton tomorrow in the regular season finale with a chance at earning a home playoff game next Tuesday. Carleton are an organized and gritty side that believe the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win, and they don’t make many. It, like most late season MIAC games, should be a tight affair. Here are the playoff scenarios.
The team is buzzing and ready to play some knockout soccer. We’ve knocked on the door in recent seasons. . .but it is time to kick the dang thing down. I hope you can tune in or be there next week!
OUR FAMILY vs. their team,
John Haws
We have had a tough run of results over our last three matches. We battled back from a 2-0 deficit to league leading Gustavus only to drop the game on a corner kick with 2 minutes left in double OT. On two days rest we learned about the invisible power of desperation at Augsburg when they efficiently converted it into goals at our expense. The final result was a 4-2 loss, but the boys, to their credit, fought until the final whistle. We followed up those two frustrating results by dropping a 2-1 double OT match to Olaf on an admittedly great counter attack after we had just flashed the ball across the face of their net on a set piece. Soccer can be so very cruel.
At training last night we spoke about life and how it will knock you to your knees at times. That isn’t something that is probable. . .it is an absolute. If that is reality, then life is about getting up from your knees, dusting yourself off, and re-engaging. The boys are ready to do just that in these last three matches!
Character is both revealed and built at times like these. The performance we put in this Saturday against UMAC champions UW Superior (12-3-2) will tell us a lot about the young men wearing our kit! I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you didn’t see this on www.GoJohnnies.com, here is a piece about two of our great seniors.
OUR FAMILY vs. their team,
John Haws
We played another double over this past weekend and were able to nab two more wins on the season. On homecoming Saturday, we traveled to Saint Mary’s to face a team that had just gained confidence with a great OT win against Augsburg. With kickoff slated for 1pm, we started our day at the Refectory for breakfast at 7:25am. The boys quickly took to their next phase of preparation for the match by sleeping awkwardly on our three-hour bus tour to Winona.
The boys started the match well and found a lead on a header by Kagan Foster in the 11th minute. Saint Mary’s quickly answered with a goal of their own which left us waiting for the non-existent MIAC VAR to overrule for offsides. Nathan Stone put us ahead with a brave finish in traffic off a feed from Ben Becker who quickly nabbed his own goal to give us a 3-1 lead going into the rainy and windy halftime.
Just a couple minutes into the second half Ryan Erickson picked out Nathan Stone on the back post with a cross. Stone wisely put the ball back across the net creating the easiest goal Kagan Foster has likely ever scored. Though Saint Mary’s found two quick goals against play in the 58th minute, Tommy Picka stamped out the comeback with a set piece goal securing the full three points. 5-3 wasn’t how we drew it up, but we will absolutely take it!
On Sunday we played host to UM Morris on Haws field. They were coming off an important UMAC league win the day before and I don’t believe we saw the best they had to offer this time around. The result was a tidy 2-0 win. Nathan Stone struck again with a left footed volley and Paul Wadsworth netted a direct freekick from just outside the box. Nick French earned the shutout without making a save on the day.
As far as MIAC play goes, we’re halfway there. I don’t agree with Jon Bon Jovi that we are living on a prayer, though. We host a dangerous Gustavus side tomorrow at 3:30 for a game with massive playoff implications. We dropped the three points to them last fall in OT which paved the way to their MIAC title. The winner tomorrow would have to be favored to follow that same path this season. If you don’t want to brave the winter weather we are facing tomorrow in Collegeville here is the webcast link.
OUR FAMILY vs. their team,
John Haws
What do you do when you concede a second goal in the 51st minute against a side that beat you 3-0 the previous season? Do you fold? Do you point fingers to assuage your ego? Those are both common responses but, proudly, not the options the boys reached for this past weekend against Macalester.
Our boys banded together to create a memorable performance after the Scots jumped to a 2-0 lead this past Saturday. We outshot them 12-4 from that point forward! On the back of three straight corner kicks, Tim Spesia volleyed home his first collegiate goal to breath life onto Haws field. Shortly after that, Guy Mohs set the game on fire with his first of the season when he tapped in Ben Becker’s header that caromed off of the crossbar. The final touches were administered in the 89th minute when Kagan Foster put life and limb on the line to challenge for a header with their keeper. His bravery won us a PK that captain Leighton Lommel tucked into the side net as calmly as you like.
We lined up in one of our very last MIAC matches with the tommies (I trust most of you know they are leaving the MIAC) in St. Paul yesterday in relentless rain. We jumped to an early lead 8 minutes into the match when a vertical pass from WB Nick Devasia connected with Kagan Foster between their CB and GK. He did the work to beat the keeper before tucking it away. We were always going to need to be on point all day to keep their attack at bay which wasn’t to be this time around. They netted two goals just before half and found a third after the intermission. We are hoping that we get another chance to play them as it wasn’t the full 90 performance we had scripted.
The MIAC, as you all know, is a bruising conference in soccer right now. Take a look at the standings after four games. I warned the boys against reading the press clippings after our incredible comeback against Macalester as well as trusting their emotional response to the defeat by the tommies. Much of the MIAC table at the end of the season will be sorted by how teams react after taking a ding. Well, we took one yesterday. . .and we get to answer that question at Saint Mary’s on Saturday. I believe the boys will show the resiliency necessary to lay claim to 12 points through half of our MIAC schedule. That, incidentally, is the total we earned through the entire gauntlet last fall.
Let me recommend watching the webcast of our homecoming game Saturday before you attend the 2019 J-Club Hall of Honor Dinner where they are honoring Pat Haws for his incredible coaching career at Saint John’s! Check out the video linked below. I’ll be hustling back from Winona to be there with you!
OUR FAMILY vs. their team,
John Haws
We are starting to figure out who we are now that MIAC play has kicked off. We opened on the road at Concordia which was an especially bruising battle. They are a much improved team from last year—especially in their midfield. I suspect that beating them 1-0 on their pitch will look like a better and better result as their body of work grows. Though we didn’t play a perfect match, we scored early and held on tight for an important opening 3 points.
On Saturday we hosted Hamline. Our last few matches with them have been incredibly frustrating in both performance and result. They are an organized and disciplined side that rarely beats themselves. Though the tally on shots was a better representation of the game, the scoreboard read 7-2 when the final whistle blew. We were able to get valuable minutes for all of the field players that were dressed which always makes for a great game day. Last year we gathered 3 points from our matches with Concordia and Hamline. . .taking a full 6 is a big step back to the post season after our one season hiatus.
UW Whitewater is usually a strong side but I didn’t expect that they would arrive in Collegeville on Sunday with a record of 9-0-1. Though the boys weren’t lit on fire with motivation after taking care of more vital MIAC business, they showed a level of determination that I was excited to see. Honestly, they showed me that they have the makings to be a very strong regional side this fall. We outplayed UW Whitewater and I felt as the clock was ticking down that we were going to find a way to pull it out. Unfortunately, we dropped the match in the 81st minute because we lost focus on one mark during a set piece. This is a great reminder that we need to play ALL of the minutes if we want to transition from good to great.
We host a fantastic Macalester side this weekend in Collegeville and then we will be traveling to Saint Thomas next Tuesday. Both of these matches will be opportunities to test ourselves which is something the boys are learning to relish.
Our FAMILY vs. their team,
John
Loras, for the past decade or so, has been a great measuring stick for programs that are willing to line up against them. They are currently #9 in the country. Theirs is a physical, direct, and athletic brand of soccer that has obviously served them well. I scheduled them as a test to see who was up to the task of fighting tooth and nail for their family. My hopes for the season were boosted by how the team rose to the challenge.
It took about 10 minutes for the boys to settle into the pace forced by Loras’ brand of soccer. Unfortunately, during that spell we conceded on a deflected set piece. The boys responded by banding together and crawling back into the match by equaling the pace, intensity, and physicality that initially left a competitive gap. At the 22’ mark, Patrick Erredge almost leveled the score with a shot that fizzed past their outstretched keeper and, unfortunately, the post.
With a better understanding of how this contest would progress, the boys were much improved in the second half. Though we conceded a second on another deflected set piece, we outshot Loras 8-6 down the stretch. That included an attempt by Guy Mohs that was bicycle kicked off of their goal line, a stunning save on Patrick Erredge’s curling effort, as well as another heroic save on Paul Wadsworth’s well-taken penalty after Matt Anderson was hacked down in the box in desperation.
As we enter MIAC play 3-1 on the season, we must be aware that the conference as a whole has done some serious work by posting a 33-16-7 record. This includes an undefeated Concordia (4-0) team that we open conference play against tomorrow. They have outscored their opponents 15-1 during the opening two weeks and really look to be in great form especially on their home pitch.
We also have two home games in Collegeville this weekend. We host an organized and resilient Hamline (2-2) side on Saturday at 4pm after the football game. Then we have another top-class regional opponent this Sunday at 3pm in UW Whitewater (8-0).
Our FAMILY vs. their team,
John
We kicked off the season this past Saturday at home against Nebraska Wesleyan University with a come from behind 2-1 victory. We followed that up with an early morning ride up to Duluth on Sunday to play St. Scholastica for the first time in over a decade. A 3-1 score line may mask the fact that it was a tight game until the last twenty minutes when we found the net twice.
Coming out of the weekend I feel good about where we sit. We were able to get almost everyone into the matches to see how they would react. The competition was good enough to expose portions of our game that deserve our attention as we prepare for the MIAC. We also added a couple tools to our collective belt that will help us this season. We know we can battle back should we concede first and we know we can compete well on a back to back (think NCAA tournament games). . .and, in this case, our opponent was not on a back to back.
Because of the generous support we received from many of you this past spring in our now annual Go Johnnies Challenge, we were able to make an incredible addition to the coaching staff by bringing Noel Quinn into the family. He has had an immediate positive impact throughout the program. We have also been able to keep our other fantastic staff members in place including Chris Foreman, Grant Bell, and, the legend, Pat Haws.
Speaking of Pops, and this is a huge deal, he is being inducted into the J-Club Hall of Honor this homecoming on October 5th. This is the first full class induction to our Hall of Honor. It would mean the world to Pops to have you join the banquet that night. Click here to RSVP.
Quick Hits
--Our next match is Saturday night at Northwestern. We have a pregame social set up for alums, parents, and fans at a nearby Chili’s. Register here if you can make it!
--Our gear store got hung up this year, but it is now open. Go to
WWW.BIGTEAMSTORE.COM and use the password SJUSOCCER. It will be open until September 11th, and they will work to turn around the orders as quickly as possible for us.
--’85 grad and former standout wide mid for the squad, Michael Crouser, is releasing a book called “Saint John’s Through the Years”, which is entirely comprised of images from the archives of SJU and the Abbey. Click here to take a look and possibly preorder to get a jump on your Christmas shopping. Crouser’s other photo books are phenomenal as well. Mountain Ranch is my favorite!
This Thursday, April 11th, the athletic department will be rolling out our first ever “Go Johnnies Challenge” fundraising event. I am thrilled with our Institutional Advancement office’s willingness to partner with us to help move the needle in athletics!
Like you, I want the absolute best experience for our young men as they compete in Johnnie Red. In this competitive era of MIAC and Division III soccer I see that a key element to providing this experience is the quality of the coaching staff. In recent years we have been falling behind on the coaching component as competing soccer programs are finding creative ways to bring in full-time staff - be it through full-time grad assistants, pooling money for partnering with other campus departments for joint positions, etc. I am regularly faced with this while out recruiting and rubbing elbows with these assistants.
The absolute top priority for the soccer funds raised on Thursday will be increasing the hours of our lead assistant coach, Grant Bell, to be able to utilize his skills and talents in a more full-time fashion. His soccer resume is stunning and includes being named to Division 1 Bradley University’s all-conference team three times and being awarded all-region status twice. He then played professionally in Sweden with Nordvärmlands FF. He was the Bell brother that got away as all three of his brothers became Johnnies: Chris ’05 baseball, Eric ’10 soccer, and Thomas ’19 soccer.
The boys on the team are deeply excited about the possibility of having Grant with us in an increasingly more effective way. Please understand this--ALL money donated to Johnnie Soccer will go directly to improving the program. Additionally, funds will go toward things and activities that directly improve the experience the boys have while they are working their tails off and competing.
Right now we have generous alums that have already set up matching funds to incentivize others to join the Go Johnnies Challenge. Because of lead donations by Jim Byrne ‘84, Terry Leiendecker ‘84, and Pat Haws ‘72, we are able to publicize that the first 50 donors will each trigger $100 in matches! I am asking you to join the challenge in some fashion—as a donor, an advocate, or by setting up a match. Here are two documents that outline and explain how you can impact and improve the program. Thank you for your support!
5 ways to show your support (PDF)
Hit me back if you plan on making the Alumni Game at 2:00 this Saturday in the Skalicky Dome as well. I ordered souvenir t-shirt jerseys for the alums this year!
Our FAMILY vs. their team,
John
If you aren’t following our Twitter or Facebook, get on board so you have a front row seat for the fireworks on Thursday!
Our MIAC “non-traditional season” was recently expanded from a narrow 7 dates up to the NCAA sanctioned 16 dates. Our conference still does not allow a date of competition in the spring season with the concession that you can play your alumni game assuming you hadn’t played it in the fall. We have structured our spring season to start the week following spring break and we will conclude our training by testing our mettle against the alums and current seniors. This has been a fantastic opportunity to transition the seniors to the washed-up has-been side of the ledger and they enjoy the opportunity to show the younger players just how much they will each be missed. The match is set for April 13th at 2pm in Skalicky Dome for any and all that want to watch or join in on the action!
We are now a full week into our spring preparations for 2019. The boys accepted the challenge I put to them earlier this winter with their scores on the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Feel free to give it a shot and report back. I set out two targets for the boys. The first target was the minimum for field players to continue participating in the spring season—and everyone nailed it. The second target was set at a level that exempted the student-athlete from extra physical work at the end of each spring session. Though only a few were required to perform the extra workouts, in true Johnnie fashion, a huge group of those that met the standard have been opting into the extra workouts. When I see moments like this I know that the boys have fully bought into our mantra, “Our FAMILY vs. their team.”
During our 2018 spring season, we decided to depart tactically from standard operating procedures. We have eschewed some commonly held soccer concepts in pursuit of a style of play that relies on work, grit, and, above all, a submission of ego. If you watched us play, you saw that we pushed the tempo and pressed our opposition. With the exception of only pockets of time in a few games, the majority of possession our opponents had was contained in their own half. . . and OUR possession was in THEIR half, too! The style of play leans more heavily on risk and free expression and less on fault and rigid structures. The boys are largely free to attack but must also work for each other doggedly the moment the ball is turned over to our opposition. Take a look at this graphic to see how much it moved the needle compared to 2017!
The depth of statistical information afforded us by our relationship with Instat is absolutely insane. I can, for example, with a few clicks of my mouse, determine what percentage of air challenges a specific player won in MIAC games in the middle 1/3 of the field. . .or what our possession percentage was in the first 15 minutes of a specific game vs. the last 15. This may be a topic for a future post.
I strained memories of my math major days here in Collegeville (and I hit up Google a bit) to study the correlation between winning and many different variables in hopes of finding our very own Johnnie Soccer “Moneyball” golden rules that could help us steer more games to the win column. Some of the obvious tried and true, dogmatic statistics did not correlate as strongly as you may suspect—the best example was that possession only moderately correlated (~.55) with winning. This does make sense though as we out-possessed all but 3 opponents this year. There were some very specific variables that did correlate to winning at a much higher rate. Armed with the understanding that correlation simply shows association not necessarily causation, we have created some waypoints to focus on this spring and heading into next fall. These tangible markers will help us stay engaged in the PROCESS which we can control instead of focusing on the OUTCOME which can impede motivation, effort, and creativity. In the next blog I will release to everyone (including those of you on staff at other college programs) those exact measurable variables. . .and the formula for Pepsi.
Our FAMILY vs. their team,
John