DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The opening 20 minutes to Saturday night's Iowa Conference Women's Soccer Tournament game had everything Loras could have hoped for. Two goals from junior Katie Truesdale gave Loras a lead they hoped would carry them to victory. Unfortunately for the Duhawks, Luther stormed back to equalize not once, but twice before tallying the game-winner in overtime to win 4-3 and advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament.
 
For the first time since 2009, Loras found themselves in the first round game of the conference tournament. That season, Loras handled Coe 6-1 before drawing even against University of Dubuque before falling in penalties.
 
Fast forward to 2014 and the Duhawks again found themselves in a first round game. Saturday got off to a great start for Loras as Truesdale found the back of the net twice in the opening 20 minutes to get the Duhawks off to a commanding start.
 
Whether it was a change in scenery or a change in personnel, Saturday's contest was the complete opposite of their regular season matchup.
 
The two-goal lead didn't last long for Loras, though, as Lauren Hughes pounced on a loose ball in the box to get the Norse on the board and cut Loras' lead in half.
 
Before the opening 45 concluded, Luther was pushing forward to find an equalizer. A long ball forward from Wilson caught the Duhawk defenders in no-man's land, leaving Elly Arend in position to beat Wilson to the loose ball and send home the equalizer.
 
With the sides level at two, Loras held a 7-4 advantage in shots, while the teams were even at one corner kick apiece.
 
Out of the gate in the second half, Loras demanded the momentum and were rewarded as senior Claire Murphy finished off scoring chance created by senior Kristina Everding. The Sumner, Iowa product took her dribble to the end line and delivered a cross straight to Murphy where she was able to send it past a diving Lauren Thormodsgard.
 
Once again, however, the Duhawks were unable to control the game with the lead as Luther marched back less than ten minutes later to equalize.
 
After earning a corner kick, Ellie Bunz sent a low-lining kick to the near post and benefited from a unique bounce as her kick went past Wilson and into twine to level the sides at three.
 
The Duhawks tested Thormodsgard three more times in regulation, but the Luther goalkeeper stood tall and kept her side level.
In the overtime period, Truesdale sent in what she thought was the winner only to have Thormodsgard make the stop with a full extension save.
 
On their next possession, Melisse Chasse combined with Bunz to enter the attacking third where Bunz slotted her ball side netting, beating Wilson to the far post.
 
With the loss, Loras caps their season at 11-8.