Macalester vs. St. Thomas statistics

Jake Rocke (Sr., Lincoln, Neb. / East) blasted home the game-winning goal early in overtime as Macalester beat visiting St. Thomas 2-1 to move into a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings. The Scots are now 8-7-1 overall and 5-3 in the MIAC, and are deadlocked for the runner-up position behind first-place Carleton with UST, St. Olaf and Concordia.

One of these four teams, and perhaps a second, won't make the MIAC post-season playoffs and the Scots can clinch at least one spot with wins in their final two games. The reason Mac controls its own destiny is because St. Thomas and Concordia match up next week.

The Scots had lost their previous three overtime matches in frustrating fashion, but wasted little time in reversing this trend as Rocke scored in his second straight game just 1:19 into OT on a double assist from Ryan Marshall (So., Plymouth, Minn. / Robbinsdale Armstrong) and Carson Gorecki (Sr., Mahtomedi, Minn.).  Marshall flicked on a Mac goal kick to teammate Gorecki, who hit Rocke in stride down the right side for the break-away.  Rocke's 20-yard blast from the right beat the keeper into the far corner. View Rocke's goal on YouTube

Marshall left-footed a rocket past the UST keeper in the 37th minute to give a big home crowd what looked like would be the match-winner until UST's Elliott Amundson tied things up at 1-1 in the 75th minute.

Macalester goalkeeper Mark Mullaney (Jr., Plymouth, Minn. / Robbinsdale Armstrong) turned away four St. Thomas shots on net.

Next up for Mac during this intense race for the playoffs is a home match Tuesday (Oct. 27) at home against St. John's.