ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's soccer team fell to St. Thomas, 2-1 in the semifinals of the MIAC playoffs Wednesday night at Macalester Stadium. The loss is the first of the season for the Scots, who are now 13-1-5. The Tommies (12-6-1) advance to Saturday's MIAC championship game against St. Olaf.

After a scoreless first half, St. Thomas struck first in the 64th minute. Miles Stockman-Willis got on the end of a corner kick by Mark Heydt and knocked it in at the back post for a 1-0 lead. Then in the 84th minute, St. Thomas was awarded a penalty kick when a foul was called on the Scots in their penalty area. Shae Bottum converted the ensuing penalty kick to put the Tommies on top, 2-0.

Less than three minutes later, first year midfielder Jamel Benhamida (Faribault, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary's) blasted home a rebound from 15 yards out to make it a one-goal deficit. But St. Thomas held off the Scots the rest of the way to clinch the victory.

Junior goalkeeper Zeke Vainer (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) registered three saves in goal for Macalester, while Grant Larson had four saves for the Tommies. The Scots took nine of their 10 shots in the second half.

Macalester, ranked 11th nationally and second in the NCAA Division III North Region, will await a possible at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament field, which will be announced on Monday.

2015 MIAC Men's Soccer Tournament
Quarterfinals - Nov. 3
#6 St. Thomas 1, #3 Carleton 0 (OT)
#4 St. Olaf 1, #5 Hamline 0
Semifinals - Nov. 4
#4 St. Olaf 1, #2 Saint John's 0
#6 St. Thomas 2, #1 Macalester 1
Finals - Nov. 7
#6 St. Thomas (12-6-1) at #4 St. Olaf (12-7-1), TBA