COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The No. 14-ranked Carleton College men's soccer team concluded the regular season with a 2-0 victory over Saint John's University. Ben Pennell notched a brace to lead the Knights to victory.
 
Due to results elsewhere in the conference that had come in prior to the kickoff of this game, Carleton was locked into second place in the MIAC regular-season final table, regardless of the outcome of this contest. That No. 2 seed will give the Knights a first-round bye in the MIAC Playoffs and homefield advantage in the semifinals. Carleton will play postseason soccer for a MIAC-record 16th consecutive time.
 
Carleton (15-1-1, 8-1-1 MIAC) had the upper hand for the opening portion of the contest but could not crack the Johnnies' (7-6-4, 4-4-2 MIAC) defense until the 29th minute. Then, Briggs Priem played the ball wide to Jonathan Vonderlage, who sent a right-booted cross to the top of the six-yard box, where Ben Pennell flicked a header that settled into the back of the net. This was Pennell's 12th goal of the season, and Vonderlage's second straight game with an assist.
 
In the 35th minute, the Knights strung together a pacy counterattack that ended with Dylan Fox-Arnold in an advantageous position, but his effort was turned aside by Saint John's goalkeeper Evan Siefken at close range. Then, right before the end of the opening half, Carleton squeezed a ball for Priem in the middle of the box, but he was unable to direct an off-balance shot. The Knights went into halftime with a 1-0 lead, limiting the host Johnnies to just one shot.
 
Less than 90 seconds after the second-half kickoff, the Knights doubled their advantage. Blake Jones picked up a giveaway at the halfway line and sent the ball ahead for Vonderlage, who laid a pass into the impeccably timed run of Pennell. The Carleton forward remained onside and got in alone with the keeper, side-footing the ball into the net, scoring his second of the day and 13th of the season.
 
Pennell's 13 goals are second-best among MIAC players this season and tie for the third-highest single-season total in recorded program history. He leads all players in the conference with 18 points during MIAC contests and a trio of game-winning tallies in league play.
 
Pennell nearly found his hat-trick after thirty seconds, as he was in alone with the goalie for the second time in less than a minute, but Siefken made a sprawling save. Saint. John's looked to respond, with a win potentially helping them in seeding. The Johnnies found much more attacking zone time in the second half, but again only offered one shot on goal, a bounding try that Daniel Linder scooped with ease.
 
Linder made two saves in two tries to collect his 10th clean sheet, which easily leads the MIAC, is tied for fourth in NCAA Division III this fall, and is tied for the second-highest single-season figure in recorded team history (see chart below).
 
This was the Knights' 13th shutout in 2023, tied for the most in all of D-III. Carleton's 0.24 goals allowed per game is also best in the nation.
 
The Knights claimed their 15th victory, which is tied for fourth-most in the history of Carleton men's soccer.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton holds a first-round bye in the MIAC playoffs, and as the No. 2 seed will play the highest remaining seed in the MIAC semifinals. That game will kick off Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 11:30 as part of a playoff doubleheader with the Carleton women's team.
 
Most Wins in single season
Year  --  W-L-T (Win Pct.)
2008  --  17-2-3 (.841)
2012  --  17-2-2 (.857)
2018  --  16-2-3 (.833)
2009  --  15-5-0 (.750)
2013  --  15-3-3 (.786)
2023  --  15-1-1 (.912)
 
Most Goals (single-season)
1.   19 -- Branden McGarrity -- 2012
2.   15 – Ron Sanders – 1963
3.   13 – Mario Small – 1967
3.   13 – George Monyemangene – 1987
3.   13 – Ben Pennell – 2023
6.   12 – Simon Ginet – 2012
7.   11 – Ken Tape – 1998
7.   11 – Branden McGarrity -- 2013
7.   11 – Marco da Cunha – 2018
10. 10 – Are Aristides – 1981
10. 10 – Bobby Phillips – 2006
10. 10 – Tim Wills – 2010
10. 10 – Tim Wills – 2011
 
Most Shutouts (single-season)
1.   11 – Aaron Forman – 2018
2.   10 – Pete Semmer – 2008
2.   10 – Pete Semmer – 2009
2.   10 – Daniel Linder – 2023
5.     7 – Sam Havens – 1996
5.     7 – Sam Havens – 1997
5.     7 – Keenan Smith – 2014
5.     7 – Brandon Hilliard – 2015
9.     6 – Pete Semmer – 2007
9.     6 – Brandon Hilliard – 2017
9.     6 – Aaron Forman – 2019