Simen Haraldstad’s PK sends No. 19 Men’s Soccer to NAIA National Championship Game

WICHITA, Kan. (December 2, 2023) – Simen Haraldstad's penalty kick goal in the 103rd minute of double overtime delivered the No. 19 Milligan University men's soccer team past No. 3 St. Thomas 1-0 in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Semifinals at the Scheels Stryker Sports Complex.

The Buffs' unbeaten steak grows to 21-straight games as Milligan rises to 19-2-4 on the season. STU ends its year with an 18-2-3 record. The Buffs earn their first-ever NAIA National Championship Game appearance in any head-to-head team sport. Milligan eliminated three top-10 opponents in the national tournament on their way to the final.

After a scoreless 100 minutes of soccer, the second overtime began with the Bobcats generating a scoring chance, but Adria Alles made a diving stop and STU's follow-up attempt was blocked by the Buff back line. After a STU corner kick, a shot sailed high to end the sequence.

Milligan earned Haraldstad's penalty kick in the 103rd minute with Jett Carter running on to a long ball and being taken out from behind as he approached the six-yard box. Haraldstad stepped to the penalty spot and calmly tucked his shot into the lower-left corner past the diving keeper to gave the Buffs a 1-0 lead.

Alles made a close-range save less than a minute later in what would be STU's best last chance as Milligan was able salt the game away.

The Bobcats generated the first chance of the game in the third minute as a lead pass led to a one-on-one opportunity for a STU forward, but Alles made a diving stop and the Milligan back line cleared the ball away.

The Buffs' first potential opportunity came in the 17th minute as Inaki Moreno took the ball off a St. Thomas defender and served a cross into the box. Asa Kai Blake tracked the ball to the right post but only got light contact as it fluttered wide of the frame.

The Bobcats sent a free kick near the six-yard box in the 36th minute but the resulting header went wide of the frame. STU had another head off a free kick sail just to the right of the goal in the 43rd.

The game went to the half scoreless. St. Thomas had all five official shots that were recorded over the first 45 minutes.

The second half saw a slew of dangerous free kicks for both sides but neither team was able to come up with a tally.

Both teams had their top chances in regulation in the final five minutes of the half. In the 86th, Carter ran onto a ball up the right side, attacked the right post and centered a pass back to Albert Montragull, who stepped into a well-struck shot that was saved.

In the 89th, STU had a chip beyond Milligan's back line and a one-on-one chance for one of its attackers, but the close-range attempt missed the mark altogether.

STU outshot the Buffs 16-5 (6-2 SOG) but Alles finished with six saves as the Buffs' earned their program-record 15th shutout.

Haraldstad's goal was his seventh tally of the year and his fourth game-winning goal of the campaign. He scored a memorable game-winner in the final second against Bryan and had the go-ahead goal in the Buffs' NAIA National Tournament win at No. 10 William Carey.

Milligan will play in the 2023 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Game on Monday at 3:00 p.m. The Buffs will take on No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene in the national title game.