The freshman goalkeeper from Norway has been a force between the posts all season, and he delivered when it mattered most during the final week of the regular season and into postseason play. On Thursday, the Oaks hosted nationally ranked No. 13 Monterey Bay in a must-win matchup. With Manny Portillo finding the back of the net early, Madshus held strong, recording six saves to secure a 1-0 victory, Menlo’s fourth shutout of the season, and a No. 5 seed in the CCAA Tournament. His performance earned him CCAA Defender of the Week honors on Friday! But Vebjørn wasn’t done. Just three days later, the Oaks traveled to Seaside for a rematch against the Otters in the CCAA Opening Round. Once again, Madshus came up big, making seven saves across 90 minutes to help Menlo secure a thrilling 2-1 victory over the nationally ranked squad. After another early goal from Portillo, the match remained tight until the 84th minute, when Janne Spangenberg buried the game-winner off an incredible assist from Roy Rosenberg. With Madshus holding down the back line, the Oaks punched their ticket to the CCAA Semifinals in their first postseason appearance as a full NCAA Division II member! Next up, Menlo takes on nationally ranked No. 1 Cal State LA on Friday, November 6, at 4 p.m., with a spot in the CCAA Championship on the line.
