NORTHFIELD, Minn. – After defeating the No. 9 team in the country in the NCAA Division III First Round, the Yellowjacket men's soccer team advanced to second round play for the first time since 2019, taking on the reigning national champions and regional-host Oles of St. Olaf College.
The Oles entered the contest receiving votes in the eighth national poll of the season, boasting a 15-4-3 record in 2024. The Yellowjackets showcased an 18-3-2 record, only suffering losses to teams receiving national or regional recognition.
UWS has posted a historic season so far, and history continued to be written on Sunday.
After playing to a 2-2 draw in regulation time, the Oles and Yellowjackets duked it out in overtime, but neither squad was able to trigger the golden goal. While the match goes down as a tie, penalty kicks would determine who advances to the Sweet 16.
The first four Yellowjacket strikers successfully converted their attempts, while senior goalkeeper
Alex Paredes (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) saved two-of-four opposing shootouts to send the Yellowjackets to the division's third round for the first time in program history.
Match Notes
- The Oles certainly didn't make it easy, as they found the back of the net in the sixth minute of play courtesy of Clemente Arcuch Puig after taking a feed from Ben Brody.
- UW-Superior commenced a heavy offensive attack, sending eight shots towards St. Olaf's Jack Hobday within 16 minutes.
- Momentum shifted shortly after the Yellowjacket barrage, as Paredes was faced with three shots from Ryan and Shea Bechtel, along with Arcuch Puig. With assistance from the UWS backline, the Ole offense came up short.
- Seven minutes into the second half saw Felipe Oliveira (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Colegio Soma) utilize a perfectly placed left-foot touch after evading St. Olaf's defenders, logging the match's equalizer.
- Josh Bellamy (High Wycombe, England/FAB Football Academy), who fired the game-winning goal in Saturday's match versus North Park, would factor into Sunday's scoring as well. He capitalized on a misplay from an Ole defender and sent a shot to the lower-left corner, garnering his 12th goal of the campaign and giving Superior the lead.
- St. Olaf had a response, however. At the 87th minute of play, Kymani Chitulangoma sent a pass towards the center of the box, forcing Paredes off his line. Shea Bechtel would capitalize and send a left foot shot to the back of the net for the equalizer, sending the match to overtime.
- Both teams saw increase foul numbers that provided scoring opportunities in two overtime periods, but the Oles and 'Jackets were unable to trigger the golden goal, forcing penalty kicks to determine who advances in the NCAA Tournament.
- All four strikers the 'Jackets sent to the box in Bellamy, Oliveira, Harry Ambler (Reading, England/Little Heath School) and Alfie Hudd (Exeter, England/Exeter) converted their penalty kick attempts. For Paredes, he saved the first attempt before allowing the next two but came up big and saved a shot to the lower left corner, sending the Yellowjackets to the Sweet Sixteen.
- UW-Superior becomes the first men's soccer team from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
- Bellamy led the offense on the afternoon, taking four shots with two reaching the mark.
- Paredes finished his day with four saves, while Hobday saved five.
- Ambler, Paredes and Rowan Wagner (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) each played a full 110 minutes, while Bellamy and Watson saw at least 100 minutes on the pitch.
UW-Superior (18-3-3, 15-0-0) will take on the No. 8 Mammoths of Amherst College, who also advanced on penalty kicks Sunday. The time and location of the match are to be determined.
