DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – In what was supposed to be a celebratory day for this year's senior class, the Loras Women's Soccer team suffered a 3-nil setback to Wartburg College on Saturday, pushing themselves out of a top-two spot in the upcoming Iowa Conference Tournament.
 
A Wartburg corner kick in the 14th minute set the stage for the game's opening goal. Brittany Frush's service into the penalty area was partially cleared by the Duhawks, but the Knights broke up the clearance and directed the ball back towards goal from the top of the 18. Ashley Kerns put herself in a position to capitalize and that's exactly what she did, giving Wartburg the early lead.
 
Six of Wartburg's eight shots in the opening 45 went on frame, with senior Hannah Wilson making six saves. Loras could only manage two shots and put one on goal.
 
Loras' lone shot came in the 25th minute by freshman Molly Stanfa. The Geneva, Illinois product joined the offense in the final third and curled her shot towards the upper 90 on the near side. Wartburg goalkeeper Beth Crow went full extension and directed it wide to preserve her clean sheet.
 
No relief came for the Duhawks in the second half, as Wartburg kept their foot on the pedal in search of more offense.
 
In the 62nd minute, Frush bent her corner kick attempt in for her 10th goal of the year. The two-goal advantage was more than enough to hand Loras its seventh loss on the year and second in conference play.
 
In the 82nd minute, Alyssa Hewitt provided the final tally of the night, her sixth goal of the season, crossing up freshman Riley O'Neill inside the penalty area and blasting her goal into the back of the net.
 
The loss drops Loras to 10-7 on the year and 4-2 in conference play.