BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Men's Soccer Playoffs continued on Thursday with two semifinal contests.
The home teams prevailed, as No. 1 St. Olaf defeated No. 6 Saint John's, 3-1, and No. 2 Macalester topped No. 4 Gustavus, 2-1.
| 2025 MIAC Men's Soccer Playoffs | Tickets | MIAC Sports Network |
The Oles and Scots will now meet in the MIAC Men's Soccer Playoff Championship. St. Olaf will host at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday in Northfield.
NO. 1 ST. OLAF 3, NO. 6 SAINT JOHN'S 1 | Box Score |
After a scoreless first half, the St. Olaf offense came to life, scoring three goals in the final frame to move on to the MIAC Men's Soccer Playoff championship for the fifth consecutive season with a 3-1 win over No. 6 Saint John's. Ole midfielder Riker Doolittle registered the first tally of the game in the 62nd minute before Ryan Wilson logged the game-winner in the 78th, and Ryan Bechtel tacked on an insurance goal in the 83rd. Tustin Todd assisted on the first two goals, while Lucas Montera was credited with the help on Bechtel's score. The Johnnies got on the board with just under two minutes remaining in the game when Eli Ryan - who scored two of his three goals on the season during SJU's playoff run - headed a corner kick past St. Olaf keeper Jack Hobday. Both Hobday and SJU's Cole Hanson recorded five saves in the game.
St. Olaf is now championship-bound for the eighth time in program history, and the fifth consecutive season. The Oles are 4-2-1 all-time in MIAC playoff championship games, with a 2-1-1 mark - and three consecutive titles - in their last four appearances.
NO. 2 MACALESTER 2, NO. 4 GUSTAVUS 1 | Box Score |
In a flip from the first semifinal of the day, all the scoring came in the first half of No. 2 Macalester's 2-1 win over No. 4 Gustavus on Thursday evening in St. Paul. Junior forward Zach Liptzin scored the Scots' opening goal less than five minutes into the game before the Gusties' first-year standout Kieran Mahan tallied the equalizer near the 18-minute mark. Fellow first-year Milan Shah then posted his second game-winner in the last three games with a shot to the lower right corner of the frame with seven minutes to play before halftime. Both defenses buckled down in the second half, only allowing the other side two shots on goal apiece in the final 45 minutes of play. Ondieki Maina was credited with assists on both Macalester goals, with Kasdan Blattman also earning a piece of the game-winner. Gustavus junior forward Joe Flory assisted on Mahan's score.
With the win, the Scots are headed to the MIAC Men's Soccer Playoff Championship for the seventh time in program history and the first time since 2017. Macalester won it all in 2009 and was one-half of the first three MIAC Men's Soccer Playoff title games from 2003-05.
CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR SATURDAY
St. Olaf and Macalester will now meet on Saturday, November 8, in the 2025 MIAC Men's Soccer Playoff championship game. The Scots hold a 2-1 advantage over the Oles in all-time postseason contests, though the two programs have only met in the MIAC Playoffs once in the last 15 years. That result was a 2-1 win for the Oles in the 2023 conference semifinals. St. Olaf also claimed a 2-1 decision in the 2025 regular season meeting between the two squads on 9/20 to open the MIAC schedule.
The 2025 championship game is tentatively scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on the Oles' home turf in Northfield. The MIAC Playoff Champion will receive the postseason championship trophy and the conference's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
All tickets for the 2025 MIAC Playoffs will be sold and purchased online via HomeTown Ticketing. There will not be cash sales at any venue; however, spectators can purchase tickets using a mobile device, including while at the venue. Tickets are available for purchase immediately. General admission adult tickets are $12 (plus HTT service charge). Student (with ID) tickets are $3 (plus HTT service charge), and children ages five and under are admitted free. As a reminder, artificial noisemakers are not permitted at any MIAC events.
The 2025 MIAC Men's Soccer Playoffs will be streamed live on the MIAC Sports Network in a pay-per-view format. Individual playoff contests will be streamed for $10 each, or $25 for a "championship pass" to stream the entire tournament live. On-demand access to playoff games will be available after the NCAA Tournament concludes.
The MIAC Sports Network Help Page provides guidance and links to help fans navigate the streaming platform. Hudl Customer Support is also available by email or 24/7 chat to assist with any issues.
2025 MIAC MEN'S SOCCER PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals | Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
No. 4 Gustavus 3, No. 5 Bethel 0 | Box Score |
No. 6 Saint John's 2, No. 3 Augsburg 1 | Box Score |
Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025
No. 1 St. Olaf 3, No. 6 Saint John's 1 | Box Score |
No. 2 Macalester 2, No. 4 Gustavus 1 | Box Score |
Championship | Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025
No. 2 Macalester at No. 1 St. Olaf | 1:00 PM | PPV Stream | Live Stats | Tickets |
| 2025 MIAC Men's Soccer Playoffs |