Photo of Drew Cooley courtesy of UMHB Athletics
NORTHFIELD, Minnesota–The first win of the season is always memorable. But in the case of Thursday afternoon’s 1-0 shutout for the UMHB men’s soccer team, there was extra significance: it came against the top-ranked team in the nation…on the road.
Playing on No. 1-ranked St. Olaf College’s home field, UMHB opened its Midwest trip by putting together an exceptional 90-minute effort, stunning the defending national champions in their home opener. The Oles, who went 20-3-3 last season and opened the year ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, had not lost at home since Sept. 1, 2023. They entered the matchup 2-1 overall this season, with their lone loss having come at No. 7 Chicago on Sept. 1.
UMHB, the preseason pick to win the American Southwest Conference, entered the matchup just four days after a tough 2-1 loss to Texas Lutheran on the road. But in a third-straight road match, the Crusaders seemingly put that loss in the rearview mirror, elevating their overall record to 1-1-1 early in this 2024 campaign.
The go-ahead goal came from freshman Drew Cooley in the 72nd minute off of a well-placed pass from Ethan Dacaret as UMHB sprinted upfield in attack. The opportunity initially opened when midfielder Evan Ruiz intercepted a St. Olaf pass, and directed it across midfield to Cooley, who then quickly passed to the right flank, where Dacaret was a few yards ahead. As he received the pass at the top right corner of the box, Dacaret hesitated, dribbled, and put the ball right past a St. Olaf defender. It reached Cooley in stride, and the Heath, Texas product wasted no time with St. Olaf goalkeeper Peter Forseth just a few steps away. Cooley, who holds both single-season and career scoring records at Rockwall Heath High School, drove his right-footed shot past Forseth as it rolled across the line and into the back of the net.
St. Olaf, who had 14 shots to UMHB’s eight, found itself with its best chance to tie the score with 2:46 left in the second half, presented with a penalty kick after a foul on UMHB’s Yannis Benae. Shea Bechtel, one of the Oles’ top strikers and a 2023 All-American, lined up to take the PK for St. Olaf. And UMHB goalkeeper Hayden Owens, wearing his green uniform, was all that stood in the way.
With plenty of momentum, Bechtel moved towards the ball. He got underneath it and drove it towards the top of the frame. Owens simultaneously dove to his right. But the ball never reached Owens, nor the frame or the back of the net. Instead, it sailed over the top of the frame and out of play, as Bechtel put his hands on his head, staring at the ground in disbelief. It was St. Olaf’s final shot of the match.
Owens, who played all 90 minutes for The Cru, tallied four saves in the victory, raising his total to 15 saves in the regular season.
UMHB continues its time in Minnesota on Saturday, facing Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 3:30 p.m. CT. CMS is 1-0-1 thus far in 2024.
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