On Tap
Macalester has a chance to solidify its position in the chase for a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff chase as they host two of the top teams in the conference this week.
 
Tuesday, the Scots take on third-place Carleton in a 7:30 p.m. match at Macalester Stadium.  Saturday, they will host second-place Gustavus Adolphus at 1 p.m., Saturday.
 
Records
Macalester, 7-5-1 overall, 3-3-0 MIAC (9 pts, tie 5th place)
Carleton, 6-5-0 overall,  4-1-0 MIAC (12 pts, 3rd place)
Gustavus Adolphus, 10-3-1 overall, 4-1-1 MIAC (13 pts, 2nd place)
 
When Last We Met
Macalester dropped 2-0 decisions to both the Knights and Gusties in 2013.
 
Carleton outshot the Scots, 20-6, as Branden McGarrity and Jordan Cammarota scored goals for the Knights, Oct. 15, 2013.
 
Zach Brown scored twice in the second half for Gustavus Adolphus, Oct. 19, 2013. The Gusties had a 17-4 advantage in shots in the game.

Last Week
The Scots dropped a 1-0 decision the league-leader St. Olaf, Saturday. Macalester had a 6-3 advantage in shots and a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks in the second half but were unable to cash in on any of their opportunities.
 
Following the Scots
Live video and stats will be available for both games this weekend. Links for both matches are available at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/macalester/.
 
He's the Boss
Gregg Olson is in his third season at the helm of the Macalester men's soccer team. During his time as the Scots' mentor, he has put together a 19-26-4 record.
 
In his second year with the program, Olson's squad doubled its win total from four to eight, having gone 4-13-1 in 2012 before posting an 8-8-2 mark last season.

Prior to being named the head coach at Macalester, Olson was an assistant coach at Stanford for four seasons and served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Vermont, for six seasons.

A four-year starter for the Catamounts, and a 2000 graduate of Vermont, Olson was a team captain as a senior and graduated with degrees in English and Geography. The Rockford, Ill., native was a three-time winner of the team's Donoson Fitzgerald Award for perseverance, integrity and sportsmanship. After graduating from college, Olson spent two seasons playing semi-professionally before beginning his coaching career.
 
Mac Musings
Robert Tomecek, who had started 11 games and played every minute in eight of those games, did not see action, Saturday, versus St. Olaf.


Tristan Springer did not start for the first time this season, Saturday, and played just 45 minutes after averaging 82 minutes per game in his first 12 games.
 
Alan Schembri-Wismayer leads the MIAC in all games with eight assists.
 
Austin Burrows is tied for seventh in both goals (5) and points (13).
 
Dylan Wong is tied for tied for 10th in shots on goal with 15.
 
Wong's two game-winning goals are tied for sixth.
 
Zeke Vainer leads all MIAC goalkeepers in minutes played (1197:35) and shutouts (5). He is also tied for second in wins (7), is second in save percentage (.800) and third in goals against average (0.98).

The Race is On
With six teams advancing to the MIAC playoffs this season, seven teams are in the running for those spots.
 
The Scots are one of three teams tied for fifth, along with Augsburg and Saint John's. All three teams have nine points but the Auggies have played just five games, compared to six for Macalester and the Johnnies.
  
Up Next
The Scots will have a week off following Saturday's game with Gustavus Adolphus. Macalester will play one final non-conference game, Saturday, Oct. 25, when they travel north to face Wisconsin-Superior in a 2:30 p.m. match at the Yellowjacket Soccer Complex.