2025 SJU Soccer Program by CSB+SJU

COV E R ST O RY

JOHNNIES START NEW ERA IN 2025 Page 1

NEW SJU COACH TUDOR FLINTHAM RETURNS TO ALMA MATER PAG E 5

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2025 SEASON PREVIEW A new era of Johnnie soccer begins with the 2025 season. New head coach Tudor Flintham – a 2006 SJU graduate and a former standout player and assistant coach at the school – returns to his alma mater after leading MIAC-rival Gustavus Adolphus to five conference championships over the past six full seasons. Flintham – who was named SJU’s director of soccer/head coach this past December – inherits a team that finished 6-8-1 a year ago, missing the MIAC playoffs for just the second time in the past 12 years. His team will be tested as the Johnnies’ 19-game regular-season schedule includes three NCAA Division III tournament teams (MIAC foes St. Olaf and Gustavus and non-conference opponent Wisconsin-Superior) from a year ago. Ten of those 19 games are scheduled to be played at home in Collegeville. Here is a more in-depth look at how SJU is expected to stack up this fall:

BACK WHERE IT ALL BEGAN Flintham was the associate head coach at SJU from 2010-14 and also served as an assistant coach at Saint Benedict from 2012-14. He replaced John Haws ‘99, who resigned in the summer of 2024 following 14 seasons as head coach. Noel Quinn held the job on an interim basis last fall. The Johnnies totaled a 46-34-11 record (28-16-6 MIAC) with two MIAC Playoff championship game appearances during Flintham’s five seasons on staff, while the Bennies went 37-13-6 (23-9-1 MIAC) in their three seasons with MIAC regularseason and playoff titles and an NCAA tournament appearance in 2013. A native of Norwich, England, Flintham registered 59 points (20g/19a) in 64 career games for the Johnnies from 2002-05. He captained SJU to an MIAC playoff championship, led the conference in both goals and assists and earned All2025

SJU Soccer

MIAC, Academic All-MIAC and All-Region honors in 2005. Flintham earned his master’s degree in sport management from St. Cloud State in 2014.

FAMILIAR ASSISTANTS Flintham tapped two former Johnnie goalkeepers, Kevin Lebahn ‘16 and Evan Siefken ‘25, to complete his coaching staff in March. Lebahn is the first full-time assistant soccer coach at SJU, while Siefken will be the program’s head goalkeeping coach. Lebahn had been the head women’s soccer coach at Nebraska Wesleyan the past two seasons and was the men’s soccer assistant coach, goalkeeper coach and women’s assistant soccer coach at Iowa Western Community College from 202123. Iowa Western ended the 2021 season with a 16-1-2 record under his leadership, winning the NJCAA national championship. Prior to Iowa Western, Lebahn served as an assistant/goalkeeper coach for the men’s soccer team at Augsburg for five seasons (2016-20). The Auggies recorded their highest national ranking in program history – No. 9 in 2019 – and qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2018. He also has coaching experience at Sporting Nebraska Football Club in Omaha and as an assistant for the Sporting Nebraska United women’s soccer teams. Lebahn was the first assistant at Minneapolis City SC in 2020-21, where he directed the team to conference regularseason and tournament championships and the national quarterfinals. As a student-athlete at SJU, Lebahn ended his career with a 34-20-6 record, including 16 complete-game shutouts, a 1.08 GAA and a .803 save percentage (265 saves) in 60 games. As a senior in 2015, Lebahn became the first SJU goalkeeper to earn All-MIAC first-team honors since Kevin Kohnen in 2000 after he went 12-4-2 with a 0.87 GAA and a .797 save percentage (63 saves) overall. Siefken earned his third United Soccer Coaches All-Region honor in 2024. He became the Johnnies’ first three-time AllMIAC selection since Michael Coborn ‘14, a

four-time honoree from 2010-13, and the first at goalkeeper since Terry Leiendecker ‘83 (1980-82). Siefken started all 15 games and played all but 11:15 in net, posting a 6-8-1 mark with three shutouts, a 1.68 GAA and a .752 save percentage (76 saves) last fall. He ended his career with a 26-30-9 record, 16 shutouts (another shared), a 1.36 GAA and a .797 save percentage (345 saves) in 65 career games. Jason Anhorn joins the duo for his second season as a volunteer assistant coach. A 1996 graduate of ConcordiaMoorhead, Anhorn was a member of the Cobbers’ 1995 MIAC championship team. He has coached youth soccer for CMYSA for the past decade, helping lead his 16U team to a state title in 2023.

ERTEL

HANSON

NEW NETMINDER As mentioned above, the Johnnies need to replace a four-year starter in Siefken this fall. The frontrunners in goal include a pair of freshmen in 6-foot-6 Austin Ertel (Brownsburg, Ind./Lawrence Central) and Cole Hanson (Urbandale, Iowa). Ertel was a two-time All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference pick, while Hanson graduated high school in 2024 and spent last year at the Spain Soccer Academy in Seville, Spain.

RETURNING EXPERIENCE SJU returns 12 Johnnies who played at least 10 of the team’s 15 games last season, as well as four of the team’s top five scorers. In total, the 2025 team welcomes back 60.6 percent (63 of 104) of its points, 61.8 percent (21 of 34) of the goals scored and 58.3 percent (21 of 36) of the assists from last fall. Individually, sophomore forward Ronan O’Connor (Woodbury, Minn./Hill-Murray) played all 15 games (13 starts) and led the team in goals (6) and points (14). He tied senior forward Carter Hermanson (St.

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2025 SEASON PREVIEW CONTINUED... Paul, Minn./Holy Angels) for the team lead with 13 shots on goal. Hermanson tied for third on the team with junior midfielder Danny Boyle (Downers Grove, Ill./Benet Academy) with three goals and two assists each. Senior forward Alex Bowman (Elk River, Minn./Rogers) was second with 12 points (4g/4a) in just 12 games (10 starts). Four seniors who played 14 games or more last fall also return. Forward Connor Drong (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) posted five points (2g/1a) in 14 contests, while forward Riley Buxell (Afton, Minn./Stillwater Area) tallied two assists in 15 games (11 starts). Two defenders, Caden Ligman (14 games, 11 starts; St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park) and Foster Conlin (started all 15 games; Mooresville, N.C./Mounds View) were stalwarts on the backline but did not record a point. SJU also returns senior defender Noah Hermanson (St. Paul, Minn./Holy Angels), Carter’s twin brother who was one of three players that started all 18 games in 2023. He suffered an injury during spring practice and missed all of the 2024 season.

(13 starts) and registered four assists. Defender Luke Madden (St. Paul, Minn./ Cretin-Derham Hall), meanwhile, tallied the assist on the game-tying goal and scored the game-winner with 1.4 seconds remaining in the thrilling 4-3 victory over St. Scholastica in the home finale.

NINE NON-CONFERENCE GAMES The Johnnies play six of their nine nonconference games to open the season, beginning with the season opener against Nebraska Wesleyan on Aug. 29. SJU travels to Concordia the following day for its first of two non-conference games against MIAC opponents. SJU hosts Crown and Bethany Lutheran Sept. 3 and 7 before traveling to North Central (Minn.) and Wisconsin-River Falls the following week. A second non-conference meeting with St. Scholastica interrupts the MIAC schedule on Oct. 7, and the non-conference portion of the schedule concludes with a pair of home matches against Wisconsin-Superior (Oct. 17) and Wisconsin-Stout (Oct. 22).

THE MIAC SCHEDULE

C. HERMANSON

BOWMAN

Three returning sophomores found the scoresheet as freshmen last fall. Midfielder Matt Holmes (Edina, Minn.) led the quartet with five points (1g/3a) in 14 games and defender Brendan Hainey (Minneapolis, Minn./Holy Angels) played all 15 games

SJU begins MIAC play with a pair of home games, Sept. 17 vs. St. Scholastica and Sept. 20 vs. Bethel, before Flintham faces his old program Sept. 27 at Gustavus. The Johnnies return to Collegeville for back-to-back contests against Augsburg (Sept. 30) and last year’s MIAC co-champions, St. Olaf (Oct. 4). The aforementioned non-conference trip to St. Scholastica Oct. 7 begins a three-match

road stretch that includes Macalester (Oct. 11) and Carleton (Oct. 15). The Cobbers and Johnnies meet for a second time Oct. 25, this time at Haws Field, before ending the regular-season schedule at Saint Mary’s (Oct. 28) and Hamline (Nov. 1).

MIAC PLAYOFFS The first round of the six-team MIAC Playoffs is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3, and the MIAC semifinals follow on Thursday, Nov. 6. The MIAC championship game, with the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III tournament on the line, is set for Saturday, Nov. 8. The high seed hosts in all three rounds.

2025 soccer schedule AUG 29 VS.

NEBRASKA WESLEYAN

AUG 30 @

CONCORDIA

SEP 3 VS. SEP 7 VS. SEP 11 @ SEP 15 @ SEP 17 VS.

CROWN

2025

PRAIRIE WOLVES

COBBERS POLARS BETHANY LUTHERAN

VIKINGS NORTH CENTRAL

RAMS

UW-RIVER FALLS

FALCONS ST. SCHOLASTICA

SAINTS SJU Soccer

SEP 20 VS. SEP 27 @ SEP 30 VS. OCT 4 VS. OCT 7 @ OCT 11 @ OCT 15 @

BETHEL

ROYALS GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS

GUSTIES AUGSBURG

AUGGIES ST. OLAF

OLES ST. SCHOLASTICA

SAINTS MACALESTER

SCOTS CARLETON

KNIGHTS

OCT 17 VS. OCT 22 VS. OCT 25 VS. OCT 28 @ NOV 1 @

UW-SUPERIOR

YELLOWJACKETS UW-STOUT

BLUE DEVILS CONCORDIA

COBBERS SAINT MARY’S

CARDINALS HAMLINE

PIPERS

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COACHING STAFF All-MIAC and all-region honors that summer. The Norwich, England, native then served as associate head coach at SJU from 2010 to '14, and as an assistant coach at the College of Saint Benedict from 2012 to '14. The Johnnies went 46-34-11 (2816-6 MIAC) with two MIAC playoff championship game appearances during his five seasons on staff, while the Bennies were 37-13-6 (23-9-1 MIAC) in his three seasons there, winning MIAC regularseason and playoff titles and advancing to the NCAA Division III tournament in 2013.

TUDOR FLINTHAM HEAD COACH FIRST SEASON as head coach

A familiar face is taking over the head coaching reins of the Saint John’s University soccer team this season. Tudor Flintham ’06 was hired as the Johnnies’ director of soccer/head coach last December. He had served as the head men’s soccer coach at Gustavus the past seven seasons where he led the Gusties to a 92-20-18 record with five MIAC championships – four regular-season (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024) and one playoff (2019) – and five NCAA Division III tournament appearances (2018-19, 2022-24). Long before that, though, Flintham was a standout player for the Johnnies, registering 20 goals and 19 assists (59 points) in 64 career games from 2002 to '05. During his senior season, he served as team captain, led the MIAC in goals and assists and helped SJU capture a conference playoff title. He also earned All-MIAC, Academic

“I am excited and honored to rejoin the Saint John’s community, as well as lead this new era of a historic program like Johnnie soccer,” Flintham said. “Throughout this process I was convinced thoroughly that SJU is committed to this team being not just good, but great. I want to thank everyone who was involved in that process who made me feel so welcomed and reassured that our ambitions are fully aligned.” Prior to arriving at Gustavus, Flintham served as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs at Nebraska Wesleyan University for three seasons (2015-17). The Prairie Wolves combined for 49 wins in the three seasons, including 33 shutouts. In 2017, the men’s team went 11-7-1 and won its first postseason game in 20 years.

associate head coach of Minneapolis City SC in the USL2, the largest pre-professional soccer organization in the state, and works with high school student-athletes as a coach with the Elite Club National League’s (ECNL) Minnesota Thunder Academy. Flintham replaces John Haws ’99, who resigned July 18 following 14 seasons as head coach. Noel Quinn, a former SJU soccer studentathlete and assistant coach, served as the interim head coach for the Johnnies in 2024 and led them to a 6-8-1 record (3-6-1 MIAC). Six of the eight losses were decided by one goal (four with a 1-0 score). “As an alum of this program, I feel I have a clear vision of what this place can be,” Flintham said. “During my time as a player, we were ranked as high as No. 6 in the country, set the NCAAera program record for wins in a season and won the MIAC playoff championship in its third year of implementation. “Johnnie soccer is a sleeping giant. It’s not only a program that should be perennially competing at the top of the MIAC, but nationally. That’s the mandate we now have. We have a lot of work to do. But that change has happened fast wherever I have been and I am excited to reestablish Johnnie soccer as a household name around the North Region and Division III.”

He is also currently the

Additional Coaching Staff

Kevin Lebahn '16............................. First Season 2025

SJU Soccer

Evan Siefken '25............................. First Season

Jason Anhorn............................Second Season

TOGETHER UNITED WITH MNUFC Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict have teamed up with Minnesota United FC. In 2024, the two schools entered into a three-year agreement to become the official higher education partner of the Major League Soccer franchise, which averaged 19,584 fans per home game during the 2024 season. As part of the exclusive partnership, CSB and SJU have a prominent presence at Allianz Field through in-stadium scoreboard and field-level digital displays – providing expanded visibility not just to soccer fans in attendance, but to the sizeable audience viewing the team’s broadcasts on Apple TV. The agreement also provides for a number of other promotional opportunities, including CSB+SJU Night at Allianz Field when Minnesota United plays host to Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 4. “During the first of our three-year partnership with Minnesota United FC, we gained exceptional visibility for CSB+SJU, reaching fans in a high-energy, high-attention environment at Allianz Field,” said Sarah Forystek, the associate director of marketing at CSB and SJU.

2025

SJU Soccer

“Our activations on match days give us the opportunity to connect with prospective students and families in meaningful ways – sparking conversations, sharing our story and showcasing the vibrant community and transformative education offered at CSB+SJU. This engagement not only builds awareness but also strengthens our presence in the Twin Cities and beyond.” The partnership between CSB and SJU and Minnesota United is a natural fit given the prominent roles a group of the schools’ alumni already hold with the team.

• Joe Deignan, a 1995 SJU graduate and former All-MIAC and Academic AllAmerican standout on the basketball court, is one of the club’s investors. • Tom Vertin, part of SJU’s class of 1968, is also one of the team’s investors. • Eric Thomes, a 1994 SJU graduate and another former basketball standout, is the chief commercial officer for Allianz Life Financial Services, the team’s stadium partner. • Dr. Ryan Fader, a 2007 SJU graduate, is an orthopedic surgeon with Allina who serves as one of the team’s physicians.

• Gretchen Korf, a 2000 CSB graduate, joined the organization in 2022 as “We are thrilled to join forces with the the team’s chief financial officer after College of Saint Benedict and Saint spending 14 years at UnitedHealth John’s University as our exclusive higher Group, working primarily in corporate education partner,” Pfeiffer said. “The affairs and philanthropy. Last November, two schools offer a premiere and distinct her role was expanded to executive educational experience and a passionate vice president, chief administrative and devoted base of alumni and friends. officer and chief financial officer. The Johnnie/Bennie network • Bryant Pfeiffer, a 1994 SJU graduate, extends far and wide. That has been with Minnesota United for includes myself – class of more than eight years and is now the 1994 – and other members team’s executive vice president, chief of our organization, making revenue officer. this partnership a natural fit.”

legacy of success

MIAC REGULAR SEASON TITLES

1968, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 2006

MIAC PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

2003, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 2005

ALL-AMERICANS

PAT LILLY, 1976; MIKE LILLY, 1977; TERRY LEIENDECKER, 1982

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS BEN PASSE, 2006; PAUL WAGEMAN, 2015; DYLAN LEHRER, 2016, AIDAN BECKEN, 2021 AND ’22

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION All-MIAC First Team

JOHN STEVENS

SCOTT SWEDAL

1974 MIKE LILLY

1975 MIKE LILLY

1987 JOHN BOYD

1976 MIKE LILLY

RYAN LOGAN

2004 TYLER BOSCH

F/M

2006 JASON DALY

THORALF KNOLL

BEN PASSE

ANDY WITCHGER

F/M

2007 CAM CHRISTENSEN

2005 TUDOR FLINTHAM

JASON DALY

MARK COTE

JOHN STEVENS

TYLER KODET

2008 CAM CHRISTENSEN

STEVE WESTLUND

1988 STEVE BENNETT

2006 TYLER KODET

JASON DALY

JOHN WARREN

JOHN BOYD*

BRYAN MILLS

2010 RYAN FUCHS

1977 MIKE LILLY

MIKE OELRICH

BEN PASSE

2013 JOE BALDER

PAT LILLY

JOHN STEVENS

2007 JASON DALY

2015 DYLAN LEHRER

TIM RUTKA

1989 GARY BISCHEL

JOHN MCHALE

GEORGE FEHRENBACH F

MIKE OELRICH*

1978 PAT LILLY TIM RUTKA

KURT ROEMER

1990 GARY BISCHEL

ALEX NIEDERLOH

D M

2008 JASON DALY

PAUL WAGEMAN

LEVI LOWELL

2016 DYLAN LEHRER

1979 JOHN CELLA

2021 AIDAN BECKEN

2009 COLIN HALL

CHRIS SCHULTZ

2022 CAVIN ALLEN

DAVE CLARK

GEORGE FEHRENBACH F

2010 MICHAEL COBORN

MATT D. ANDERSON

TIM FREDERICK

DERRICK LANCE

2011

MICHAEL COBORN

AIDAN BECKEN

SULAYMAN N’JIE

MIKE FAHEY

2012 MICHAEL COBORN

DREW ENGEL

BRENT JOHNSON

IAN SCUDDER

EVAN SIEFKEN

1991

JIM PHELPS

PAUL SCHOEN

DERRICK LANCE

2013 MICHAEL COBORN

JACK SIMONET

1992 DAVE CLEMENTS

DAVID WEE

2023 MATT D. ANDERSON

TERRY LEIENDECKER GK

BRYAN DIELEMAN

2014 ROCKY HARMON

JIM PHELPS

BRENT JOHNSON

MIKE TIERNEY

1993 DAVE CLEMENTS

BILL VANCE

1994 CHRIS FOREMAN

ERIC ROSS

1980 DAVE CLARK

1981

CHRIS SCHULTZ

JEFF GRAEN

TERRY LEIENDECKER GK DAVE RYMANOWSKI

JOHN TRACY

1982 JEFF GRAEN

TERRY LEIENDECKER GK

ZANE HEINSELMAN

M GK

Academic All-Americans

ALEX NIEDERLOH

2006 BEN PASSE

PAUL WAGEMAN

2015 PAUL WAGEMAN

ALEX NIEDERLOH 2015 KEVIN LEBAHN

2016 ZACK BOERJAN

2016 DYLAN LEHRER

JUSTIN DUQUE

2021 AIDAN BECKEN

ERIC ROSS

ROCKY HARMON

2022 AIDAN BECKEN

2017 ZACK BOERJAN

NABIL GHARIB

1996 NABIL GHARIB

D F

DAVE RYMANOWSKI

1997 ROSS GOLLA

2018 LEIGHTON LOMMEL

JOHN TRACY

1999 KEVIN KOHNEN

2019 KAGAN FOSTER

F M

ERIC ROSS

NICK WESSINGER 2000 ROSS GOLLA

DANIEL BRUCKBAUER M

LEIGHTON LOMMEL

2021 MATT D. ANDERSON

TERRY LEIENDECKER GK

KEVIN KOHNEN

2022 EVAN SIEFKEN

DAN LILLY

MIKE RUTTER

2023 MATT D. ANDERSON

M GK

SULAYMAN N’JIE 1984 MIKE LYNN PAUL ROCHEFORD 1985 RYAN LOGAN TIM ZITUR 1986 JOHN BOYD*

2025

SJU Soccer

2001 MIKE RUTTER

EVAN SIEFKEN

JOE SCHMIDT

2002 TYLER BOSCH

*MIAC MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD RECIPIENT

MIKE RUTTER

Academic All-District

2003 JOE SCHMIDT

2002 MIKE RUTTER

2005 BEN PASSE

1995 GAGE DENNISON

SULAYMAN N’JIE

JEFF GRAEN

2024 EVAN SIEFKEN

TIM LEONARD

1983 TIM COUGHLIN

NOAH HERMANSON

ANDY WITCHGER

BECKEN

RECORDS Goals INDIVIDUAL GAME 1. 7 MIKE LILLY VS. SAINT MARY’S INDIVIDUAL SEASON 1. 19 KEN POTTS 2. 14

JIM PHELPS

OCT. 30, 1976

INDIVIDUAL CAREER 1. 36 MICHAEL COBORN

2010-13

INDIVIDUAL CAREER 1. 124+ MIKE LILLY

1974-77

2. 29 ERIC ROSS

1993-96

2. 93 JOHN BOYD

1985-88

1989-92

3. 88 MICHAEL COBORN

2010-13

4. 26 TYLER BOSCH

3. 27

BRYAN DIELEMAN

2001-04

4. 86 TYLER BOSCH

2001-04

1974

26 ANDY WITCHGER

2001-04

5. 75

1979

6. 25 MIKE RUTTER

1999-02

6. 70 NABIL GHARIB

1993-96

25 JOHN STEVENS

1986-88

7. 64 ANDY WITCHGER

2001-04

JIM PHELPS

1978-81

3. 12

JOHN BOYD

1988

JIM PHELPS

1980

8. 24 NABIL GHARIB

1993-96

64 JOE SCHMIDT

2000-03

5. 11

KAGAN FOSTER

2019

24 SULAYMAN N’JIE

1980-83

9. 63 MIKE RUTTER

1999-02

TUDOR FLINTHAM

2005

10. 22 ROSS GOLLA

1997-00

63 ERIC ROSS

1993-96

TYLER KODET

2005

TYLER BOSCH

2004

ERIC ROSS

1994

JOHN BOYD

1986

INDIVIDUAL CAREER 1. 62 MIKE LILLY

1974-77

2. 38 JOHN BOYD

1985-88

3. 30 TYLER BOSCH

2001-04

30 JIM PHELPS

1978-81

5. 26 MICHAEL COBORN

2010-13

6. 24 JOE SCHMIDT

2000-03

7. 23 NABIL GHARIB

1993-96

8. 22 TYLER KODET

2005-08

22 JOHN TRACY

1979-82

10. 21

2002-05

TUDOR FLINTHAM

Assists INDIVIDUAL SEASON 1. 18 KEN POTTS

1974

2. 15

SULAYMAN N’JIE

1982

3. 14

JIM PHELPS

1980

4. 12

MICHAEL COBORN

2012

5. 11

ANDY WITCHGER

2003

NABIL GHARIB

1994

BRYAN DIELEMAN

1991

8. 10

MICHAEL COBORN

2011

TUDOR FLINTHAM

2005

ERIC ROSS

1996

PAUL MARKSON

1991

ROSS

BOSCH

Points

Goalkeeping

INDIVIDUAL GAME 1. 14 MIKE LILLY VS. SAINT MARY’S

OCT. 30, 1976

INDIVIDUAL CAREER GAMES 1. 65 EVAN SIEFKEN

2021-24

65 TERRY LEIENDECKER

1980-83

3. 60 KEVIN LEBAHN

2012-15

INDIVIDUAL SEASON 1. 56 KEN POTTS

1974

4. 57

2. 38 JIM PHELPS

1980

5. 43 MATT SUNDBERG

3. 32 TUDOR FLINTHAM

2005

4. 31

ERIC ROSS

1994

BRYAN DIELEMAN

1991

6. 30 MICHAEL COBORN

2011

7. 29 JOHN BOYD

1988

29 SULAYMAN N’JIE

1982

9. 28 TYLER BOSCH

2004

28 NABIL GHARIB

1994

11. 27

JOHN BOYD

1986

JOHN STEVENS

1986

JIM PHELPS

1979

KEVIN KOHNEN

1997-00 2004-07

SIEFKEN

INDIVIDUAL CAREER GAA (MIN. 10 GAMES) 1. .43 TERRY LEIENDECKER

1980-83

2. .58 DICK KROETEN

1986-88

3. .71 JEREMY SCHROEDER

1991-94

4. .80 MATT SUNDBERG

2004-07

5. .80 GARY BISCHEL

1988-91

Goalkeeper Shutouts INDIVIDUAL SEASON 1. 15 TERRY LEIENDECKER POTTS

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FLINTHAM

1982

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NEW SJU COACH INTRODUCES FIRST-YEAR CLASS

by tudor flintham

Obviously, this is a unique situation for this group. We needed a large influx of talent, and a new coaching staff looks for their own type of player. There will be a lot of opportunity for these guys in the coming years. I really like this class a lot. It reminds me of some of the top classes I’ve brought in throughout my career. They somewhat remind me of the big class I brought in as associate head coach at SJU, who went on to appear in back-toback MIAC championship games in 2013 and ’14. But they also strongly resemble the 2019 class I brought in at Gustavus, who helped get us to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III tournament. Of course, these guys have a lot to do before any of that happens. We will be young and dumb at times this season. But I bet when we look at this group in a few years, there will be some all-region, and maybe even All-American, players there. Here is a full look at our first-year class:

Minnesota: SOLOMON STRAUB – Midfielder playing with Minnesota United FC Academy and Joy of the People UPSL. Made it to final tryout for '05 U.S. National Team. Played in Generation Adidas Cup for MLSnext and U.S. Nationals for Futsal. All-State and high school captain at St. Thomas Academy.

AXEL MARTIN – Forward from Minnesota Thunder Academy ECNL (Elite Club National League) and Rosemount High School captain. Top scorer on the MTA ECNL side who went to three national tournaments, a Sweet 16 and finished ninth nationally last year. Elite Club National League is the top non-pro academy level in the country. 2025

SJU Soccer

IKE DEUEL – Defender/midfielder, also from Minnesota Thunder Academy ECNL and a Maple Grove High School captain. Won a club national championship with Tonka Fusion Elite (TFE) prior to ECNL. I have coached this top MTA team for the past three years.

ELI RYAN – Defender/midfielder, also from Minnesota Thunder Academy ECNL and a Minnetonka High School captain. Also a club national champion with TFE. Mr. Soccer finalist. Two ECNL nationals appearances.

OLIN FRANZWA – Defender from St. Croix Academy ECNL but also played for me at MTA ECNL. We went to ECNL nationals together. Minneapolis City Futures player. Woodbury High School captain and an all-state pick. JAMES TORGUSON – Midfielder/winger from St. Croix Academy. SCA UPSL who won the 2025 Playoff Championship and Shakopee UPSL. Shakopee High School captain. State Cup champion. Numerous ECNL national events, two-time USA Cup champion.

CARTER GELLNER – Winger from Tonka Fusion Elite who went to the EA semis and the NPL National Championship game. Regular season champion with Blackhawks UPSL. Chanhassen High School captain. Two-time allconference and three-time team MVP.

GAGE MUELLER – Winger from Tonka Fusion Elite who went to the EA semis and NPL National Championship game. Regular season champion with Blackhawks UPSL. Benilde St. Margaret High School captain.

DEVIN IGL – Attacking midfielder/winger from Minneapolis United, Joy of the People and Park High School captain. Two-time NPL National runner-up. High school state fourth place. Two-time all-conference.

RYAN JOSEPHSON – Defender from Minneapolis United and Washburn High School. Club captain. Seven-time league

or club cup champion and two-time NPL National finalist and EA Nationals. AllState, two-time all-conference. Third place in high school state tournament.

THOMAS FALGIER – 6-foot-2 goalkeeper from Gitchi Gummi with UPSL experience in playoffs. Superior FC. Dynamo FC. State Cup Runner-up and All-American Cup winner. State high school all-tournament team, allconference pick, two-time section champion. Marshall High School and club team captain.

Out-of-state: GABE FRANZMAN – Defender/ midfielder from Sporting Iowa ECNL. ECNL National Tournament qualifier and numerous ECNL national events. Sub-state finalist. Bettendorf High School team captain.

SIMON WILLETS – Midfielder/winger from Soldotna, Alaska, and Kenai Peninsula SC. High school state champion and two-time state runner-up, conference MVP, All-State and two-time all-conference pick. Three-year high school captain who had 40 goals and 21 assists.

PETER ALBERIGI – Defender from FC Dallas ECNL, Atlético Santa Rosa and Threat International FC UPSL. Four ECNL National Playoff appearances, two ECNL National Semifinal appearances and four Dallas Cup Final/Knockout Stage appearances. ECNL Phoenix National Showcase Player to Watch. Texas Conference runner-up. Two-time California State Cup champion. Four-time captain. UPSL team captain.

AUSTIN ERTEL – 6-foot-5 goalkeeper from Indianapolis. FC Pride ECNL. High school captain. Three-time all-conference and academic all-conference selection.

COLE HANSON – 6-foot-2 goalkeeper from Urbandale, Iowa. Sporting Iowa ECNL and Spain Soccer Academy. High school state champion, then took a gap year to play academy in Spain.

DREW RIPP – Defender from St. Croix Academy ECNL, Wisconsin Rush and Holmen High School. Starter for SCA ECNL, who appeared in numerous ECNL National events and was his high school team captain.

international team travel In addition to the beautiful sights of Collegeville and Haws Field, the Saint John’s University soccer program also takes in the wonders of the world on an international trip every three to four years. The travel party consists of coaches, student-athletes, family and friends. MOST RECENT INTERNATIONAL TRIPS

CAMP NOU, BARCELONA

NÎMES, FRANCE

RIO, BRAZIL

PANTHEON, ITALY

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January 2007

Ireland

August 2013

Spain/France/Monaco

January 2017

Spain/France

January 2020

Italy

January 2023

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Here, Your Sport Doesn’t Define You – It Amplifies You

Athletics at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s isn’t just stats and PRs. It’s self-discipline and perseverance and time management and friendships for a lifetime. It’s another tool for student success. And results show it’s a powerful one.

Are you ready to compete as a Bennie or a Johnnie? Come take a closer look – schedule a campus visit today!

2024 SEASON IN PICTURES

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Soccer Facilities

Haws Field Haws Field, named in honor of retired Saint John’s University soccer coach Pat Haws, opened for the 2013 soccer season. Key features of Haws Field include a natural grass playing surface, permanent team dugouts, bleacher, natural seating and a scoreboard. The total cost of the project was $600,000, of which $400,000 came from a generous gift from Coborn’s Inc. The new soccer field was part of a $16 million athletic facilities renovation project at SJU. The field is made up of “natural turf,” a sand-peat mixture with an engineered sub-base to allow for proper drainage throughout the year. This is designed to ensure that an excess of water will not cause significant damage to the pitch, something that is always a concern for any team with a grass field. The new renovations to the pitch allow fans to sit closer to the field of play, especially with the retaining wall running along the touch and end lines. The complex is “light ready,” meaning that conduit is in place for future consideration.

complex is a perfect example of the sense of community found at SJU. Named in honor of legendary former football coach John Gagliardi – the winningest coach in college history – it was made possible by gifts from more than 50 individual donors, many of whom were former players. The artificial turf field has markings for a fulllength football field, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, two cross-court soccer fields, baseball and softball, along with three batting cages when the Skalicky Dome goes up from October to April each academic year. It’s a year-round home for intramural sports on campus, but also serves as a practice facility for the football team and other varsity sports. McGlynn Fitness Center

Gagliardi Field

When it comes to training, the right facilities are important. But having the right people in place to staff them is just as critical.

The Gagliardi Field and Seasonal Dome

Luckily, Saint John’s University has both.

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The 5,600-feet McGlynn Fitness Center – which was made possible by a generous gift from the Burt McGlynn family and is open to all students and alums – is equipped with a full range of free weights, upper-body, lower-body and full-core machines, and cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bicycles. But SJU athletes also have an exceptional resource on which to draw in Justin Rost, who is now in his 13th season as the assistant athletic trainer and head strength and conditioning coach in Collegeville.

a sense of connection That’s what Saint John’s University junior Cole Stencel enjoys most about life in Collegeville. The connection the physics major on a pre-engineering track feels with his professors and peers in the classroom, the connection he feels with his coaches and teammates on the Johnnies cross country and track and field teams, and the connection he feels to the natural beauty that surrounds him each and every day. “We talk a lot about community here, but it’s really true,” Stencel said. “This is a very tight-knit place. You get to know everyone really well and you form lasting relationships. It’s also a very outdoorsy college, which is something I really enjoy. There are lakes right outside your door. There are acres and acres of woods and trails. I don’t know of any other campus that has this many natural resources.” entails. The more I got to know about it, the more it appealed to me.” Stencel said the individual attention he gets from his professors at SJU is helping prepare him for future success. “I feel really comfortable here,” he said. “There’s a big sense of belonging. There’s a lot of one-on-one time with the faculty. If I have a question, I feel like I can go to any of my professors and talk it over with them. That means a lot.”

A Maple River High School graduate, Stencel made the dean’s list last semester and is also involved in SJU Campus Ministry. “They really encourage you to get involved in the community here and that’s a good thing,” Stencel said. “Campus life makes up such a big part of the college experience. I’ve met so many people who I know are going to be my friends for a lifetime.”

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Stencel’s interest in engineering springs from his father, Jay, a civil engineering instructor at South Central College in Mankato. “That’s how I first got acquainted with the field and the concepts,” said Cole, who plans to attend graduate school, then pursue a career in the mechanical engineering field. “He was the one who told me to check out the kind of jobs that are available and everything engineering

But Stencel said his SJU experience would likely not have been possible were it not for the assistance scholarships have provided. He currently receives the John Drahmann Memorial Scholarship, as well as an academic achievement and alumni referral scholarship. “That helped cut my bill more than in half right away, which made coming here so much more achievable,” he said. “I just want to say thank you to all the donors who make it possible for students like me to be immersed in this amazing college experience. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. So I’m extremely grateful.”

Institutional Advancement

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ST. PAUL HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL

FOSTER CONLIN

ALEX

BOWMAN

MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL

What is your best memory from your time on campus – on or off the field?

What is your favorite place on campus and why?

Going to Morocco with my study-abroad classmates.

One of my favorite memories came my freshman year when we played St. Mary’s at home to open the season. I think we won by seven goals (7-0) and there were a lot of fans surrounding the field, which was really fun.

All the lakes because I like to fish in my free time.

Cats or dogs and how come? Cats because my dog is weird.

CARTER HERMANSON OL

ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS

What is something about you most people may not know? My star sign is Cancer, and I enjoy reading and long walks on the beach.

If you could have any meal for dinner tonight, what would it be and why? Carbonara – my favorite pasta dish – and milk. Yeah.

CONNOR

DRONG F

ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL If you were lost in the woods, which teammate would you most want with you and why?

What teammate would you most want riding shotgun on a cross-country road trip and why? Alex Bowman because I know he’d have the best aux.

RILEY

BUXELL F

STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL What were the reasons you chose to come to Saint John’s? After speaking to alums and current students, I quickly realized the incredible community and network the school cultivates. SJU has an immense history of providing opportunities for their graduates, and that has proved true throughout my years here, too.

What is something about you most people may not know?

What teammate would you most want riding shotgun on a cross-country road trip and why? I feel like it would be an entertaining car ride with Carter (Hermanson), Noah (Hermanson) and Connor (Drong).

NOAH HERMANSON D

ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an athlete and how did you overcome it? My biggest challenge as an athlete has been the surgery, sitting out and rehab after I tore my hamstring. I overcame it by putting in everything I had into getting back better than I was before.

What is your favorite place on campus and why? Haws Field. I think it’s one of the most picturesque places on campus in the fall.

I DJ on the weekends with my roommate Matthew.

Alex Bowman because he’d fish and hunt for all the food.

Cats or dogs and how come? Dogs because my dog Dempsey is the man.

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DRONG

BUXELL

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soccer in the sju j-club hall of honor The Saint John’s University J-Club Hall of Honor was established in 2018 as a way to pay lasting tribute to some of the greatest athletes in school history. Legendary longtime head coaches John Gagliardi and Jim Smith were honored as the first two inductees in separate ceremonies that year. The first full class was inducted in the fall of 2019, then, after a one-year pause brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the second full class was inducted in 2021. The third followed last year. So far, four individuals connected to the Johnnie soccer team have been enshrined. They are: Pat Haws ’72 (inducted 2019) – Haws spent 32 seasons as SJU’s head soccer coach before retiring after the 2009 season with a P. HAWS record of 341-14050, making him the winningest college men’s soccer coach in Minnesota history. He built the program into a national power, making NAIA or NCAA Division III national tournament appearances in 1979, '80, '82, '86, '89, '90 and 2005. That included two trips to the national quarterfinals (1986 and '89). He also served as SJU’s longtime swimming and diving head coach. Terry Leiendecker ’84 (inducted 2021) – A four-year starter in goal, Leiendecker allowed just 28 goals in nearly 6,000 minutes of play, which translated into 44 shutouts in 65 career starts. That included his junior season in 1982, when Leiendecker recorded 15 shutouts in 18 contests and earned All-American honors. His shutout percentage that season (0.833) still stands as an NCAA Division III record. He earned All-MIAC honors four times and his career

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T. LEIENDECKER

goals-against average of 0.431 remains in the top 15 in Division III history. His success earned him spots in two straight U.S. Olympic Festivals, which in turn led to his selection as a member of Team USA at the World University Games in Japan in 1984. He also went on to spend a season with the Minnesota Strikers of the North American Soccer League. Mike Lilly ’78 (inducted 2022) – During his four seasons, Mike Lilly led the SJU soccer team to a record of 38-9-1, including an MIAC M. LILLY title and two NAIA District 13 championships. A four-time AllMIAC and all-district selection, he was also named to the NAIA Area III All-America team as a senior in 1977. The Robbinsdale (Minn.) Armstrong High School graduate is still the Johnnies’ top goal-scorer with 62, including a single-season record 20 in 1976.

Patrick Lilly (inducted 2025) – Patrick Lilly, Mike’s younger brother, was the first soccer player in MIAC and SJU history to earn All-American honors – a feat he accomplished during the 1976 P. LILLY season when the Johnnies won an MIAC title and advanced to the second round of the NAIA national tournament before falling 5-0 to thenreigning national power Quincy (Illinois) College. He went on to twice earn AllMIAC and all-district honors as a junior in 1977 and again as a senior in 1978.

M. LILY AND P. LILY

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