First-year Max Weber scored a dramatic overtime goal to give St. Thomas its first win over Macalester since 1995, last Friday. The upset also brought the Scots’ 32-game MIAC unbeaten streak to an end.

Macalester began the game with almost the same starting line-up as the team which beat St. Mary’s just two days before. The one exception: Eddie Powers ’06 replacing the injured Eric Nordstrom ’05.

The game began well for the Scots. Defender Stuart Peacock ’05 scored the opener in the second minute to give Macalester a short-lived lead. The Tommies’ Jeremy Pope tied the game with a goal off a corner kick just six minutes later.

The first half continued in scrappy fashion with each team getting a fair share of opportunities, but both sides were unable to capitalize.

The second half began inauspiciously for the Scots. Five minutes into the half, goalkeeper Tom Klezcewski ’05 failed to gather up a harmless shot, and then struggled getting the ball upfield to his teammates. Only tight coverage from a scrambling Scot defense ensured that the game remained tied.

Less than ten minutes later, Macalester had perhaps its best chance to take the lead when a fabulous pass from Michael Melamed ’06 found substitute forward Joe Wertz ’05 uncovered just outside the box. Unfortunately, Wertz was unable to make anything of the effort. The Scots proceeded to step up their offensive game and had a few good scoring opportunities, mostly off corner kicks.

However, the Tommies’ plan of crowding the box and looking for opportune breaks appeared to pay off. Not only did Macalester’s front line of Brendan Viele ’05, Magnus Oppenheimer ’07 and Wertz appear ineffective, but the Tommies managed to create some dangerous opportunities of their own with some quick counterattacks against a surprisingly shaky Scot defense. Nevertheless, when the whistle blew at the end of full time, the Scots still looked the better team.

In overtime, the game continued with more goal-to-goal play. In the tenth minute of overtime, yet another counterattack by the Tommies found the Scots’ defense unprepared. Nick Radigan took the ball in the right corner and played a low pass into the center. A miscommunication between Klezcewski and his defenders meant that the pass got through to the far end of the box where the unmarked Weber easily tapped the ball into the unguarded net.

As the Tommies stormed the field, the Macalester players slumped in disbelief. The loss puts their MIAC record at 1-1-1, and severely jeopardizes the Scots’ efforts to win a fourth consecutive MIAC title. The Scots’ only consolation lies in the fact that the tournament format introduced last year may keep them in contention for a berth in the national tournament.

The team now faces a grueling week of competition. They host Marian (Wisc.) tonight, and travel to Luther (Ia.) on Sunday. Both matches are non-conference. On Tuesday, they return to MIAC play with an away game against Concordia.