The 2013-2014 season was an incredible success for St. Olaf College, with Ole athletes performing strongly both within the MIAC conference and on a national level.
In the coming weeks, our fall athletes will be looking not only to replicate the achievements of last season, but also to improve on their performances and compete at an even higher level.
St. Olaf will be defending conference and national titles, meaning that there are many must-watch sporting events coming soon.
Cross Country
On Sept. 20, the men’s and women’s cross country teams will host the St. Olaf Invitational on campus. The race will provide a good hit-out for both teams, who are setting out to replicate their outstanding 2013 performances.
The men’s team claimed St. Olaf’s first NCAA team title in the school’s history on the back of four All-American finishes. The women’s team finished 26th at the Championships, with Noelle Olson ’17 finishing in second place. With November’s MIAC Championship looming just ahead, the St. Olaf Invitational offers a fantastic chance to see our cross country teams launch their bids for a national title.
Football
The St. Olaf football team will be looking to bounce back after a tough 2013 season. On Oct. 4, the Oles will host perennial powerhouse St. Thomas in their first home conference game of the year. The matchup will provide the team with an excellent chance to test themselves against one of the MIAC’s best teams.
On Oct 25, St. Olaf will host Augsburg College in an official “Tackle Cancer Event.” Fans attending the game can make donations toward funding additional cancer research as well as cheer on the football team.
Soccer
The St. Olaf men’s and women’s soccer teams will be confident of improving on their solid performances last season. After it finished second in the regular season in 2013, the men’s team fell to Carleton College in the semi-final round of the playoffs. The Oles will be hoping to reclaim the MIAC championship title that has evaded them since 2011.
The home match against St. John’s University on Sept. 20 looms as a defining clash for the Oles. The Oct. 4 home game against reigning MIAC champions Gustavus Adolphus College also promises to be an exciting battle.
The women’s soccer team aims to go slightly further than last season, where the team crashed out in the quarter-finals of playoffs after finishing the regular season in third place. The Oles will host Bethel University on Sept. 16 in their first conference game of the year, in what could be an extremely important encounter early on in their campaign.
Volleyball
The St. Olaf women’s volleyball team will be looking to bounce back this season and once again contend for a MIAC title after finishing the 2013 season with an 8-20 record.
There are many chances to support the team in the upcoming weeks, starting with a game in Skoglund Center against St. Catherine University on Sept. 24.
Looking ahead to notable off-campus sporting events, the St. Olaf golf and tennis teams will also be in action throughout the fall.
nolans@stolaf.edu
