Men's Soccer

Macalester wins MIAC Men’s Soccer Playoff Championship

NORTHFIELD, Minn. – For the second time in program history and the first time since 2009, the Macalester Scots are Men's Soccer Playoff Champions of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
 
The Scots defeated three-time defending MIAC Playoff champion St. Olaf by a 4-1 margin on Saturday afternoon in Northfield.
 
| Box Score | Championship Apparel |
 
Macalester now heads to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament as the automatic qualifier from the MIAC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-All five goals in the game came in the second half, including two by Ondieki Maina in the 50th and 64th minutes.
-After Kasdan Blattman put the Scots up 3-0 with less than 18 minutes to play, Jack Soares got the Oles on the board with his 12th goal of the season on a bounce-back shot at 77:56.
-Gaven Johnson tacked on an insurance goal in the 87th minute to secure Macalester's first NCAA Tournament berth in a decade.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
-With the victory, Macalester earned the MIAC's automatic qualifier to the 2025 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament. This is the 13th time in program history that the Scots will head to the national tournament, and the first time since the 2015 campaign.
-The Playoff title is the second for Macalester, which previously won the MIAC tournament in 2009.
-Macalester is now the fifth different MIAC program to have won multiple men's soccer playoff titles, joining Gustavus (7), St. Olaf (5), Carleton (4), and St. Thomas (2).
CHAMPIONSHIP APPAREL
For the next 48 hours, Macalester fans can purchase official MIAC Men's Soccer Playoff champion t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts to commemorate the Scots' historic team title. The limited-time MIAC Playoff online store is powered by UNRestricted MKTG and will accept orders until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 10. Orders will ship 10-14 days after the store closes. Macalester fans can purchase their official MIAC Men's Soccer Playoff team champion apparel here.
NPI OUTLOOK
- The NCAA Power Index (NPI)is used to select the 21 at-large bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament after the 43 automatic qualifiers have been determined on November 9. The D3Playbook has projected the NPI cut line for men's soccer at-large candidates to be 38.
-The most recent NPI rankings on November 8 list five MIAC men's soccer teams among the top 40 in Division III, with four in the top 20. St. Olaf is No. 2, Augsburg is No. 3, Macalester is No. 11, Gustavus is No. 20, and Saint John's is No. 39.
-The MIAC appears certain to be a multi-bid league again this season, but how many additional conference squads receive an invitation to the national tournament will depend on which teams claim the other 42 conference AQs across the rest of D-III.
UP NEXT
-The 64-team bracket for the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship tournament will be revealed during the NCAA.com annual selection show on Monday, November 10, at 10:30 a.m. Central time.
-The opening rounds of the national tournament are scheduled for Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16. Sectionals will be played the following weekend, with the national semifinals on Friday, December 5, and the national championship on Sunday, December 7.
-The MIAC will announce its annual men's soccer awards, including All-Conference, All-Playoff, and individual honors on Monday, November 10, at 2:00 p.m. Central time.
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 4, No. 1 St. Olaf 1 | Box Score |
 
| 2025 MIAC Men's Soccer Playoffs |