The No. 1-seeded St. Scholastica men's soccer team earned the opportunity to defend their 2006 UMAC Tournament Championship with a 2-0 victory in one of the 2007 tournament semifinal games played Friday afternoon on the turf of Duluth's Public Schools Stadium.

 

St. Scholastica (17-3-0, 14-0-0 UMAC) used goals by Robbie Miller and Cody Sveiven (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids HS) to propel them into this year's championship final where they'll face No. 3 seed Minnesota-Morris, a 2-1 overtime winner in the other semifinal with Presentation College.

 

The Saints were on their heels early in Friday's game against the Eagles but eventually swung play into the Northwestern end of the field as the opening half progressed, out shooting the visitors five to three.

 

Miller's score broke the ice for the Saints when he fired a shot past Northwestern goalie Danny King in the 31^st minute. Dustin James (Superior, Wis./Superior HS) was able to head the ball back to Miller from a scrum in front of King, where Miller easily picked his spot and drove the ball into the back of the net.

 

Sveiven's insurance goal came in the 77^th minute on a cross from teammate Toby Peter (Spalt, Germany/J.S. Bach Gymnasium). It was Sveiven's team-leading 15^th goal of the season.

 

With career shutouts leader Adam Whitehead (Pickering, Ont./Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School) in goal, the Saints felt safe with their two goal lead. Whitehead, a senior, made three saves in the second half, five altogether, in earning his 30^th shutout.

 

The loss ends the season for the Eagles, dropping their season overall mark to 8-11-2.

 

Saturday's championship final between the Saints and Cougars will kick off at 3:30 p.m. at PSS.