PELLA, Iowa – The Macalester men's soccer team opened the 2024 with a road trip down to Iowa to play the Central College Dutch. After a stalemate in the first half, the Scots found the net twice in the final 45 minutes to claim victory, 2-0, and start the season off 1-0.
 
The Scots controlled most of the first half, outshooting the Dutch, six to two. Sophomore forward Cody Da (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) had his low shot saved in the 16^th minute. Macalester continued to plow forward, creating multiple chances. In the 24^th minute, junior midfielder Ondieki Maina (Kensington, Calif./El Cerrito) had the closest chance to pull ahead, hitting the post. Yet the two sides remained goalless at the half.
 
In the second half, both teams took opportunities but it was the Scots that forced a save from the Dutch's goalkeeper in the 53^rd minute with a shot from sophomore forward Chris Frantz (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove). The Scots' persistence paid off in the 70^th minute. Senior forward Grant Luce (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) tucked one into the right side of the net, assisted by sophomore midfielder Kasdan Blattman (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine). In the 80^th minute, Luce got in on the action again, assisting Da to double the lead. The Scots would hold the Dutch scoreless, with senior goalkeeper Sam Price (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) making one of his five saves in the second half, in the 86^th, to secure the 2-0 victory.
 
The Scots play again on Sunday September 3. Macalester heads to Eau Claire, Wis. to take on the BluGolds of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 5:00 pm.