DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – In a clash of neighboring states, Iowa prevailed as No. 7 Loras (17-2-2) advanced to the "Sweet 16" with a 2-nil victory over Gustavus Adolphus College (16-5-1) on Sunday night in the Rock Bowl. With the win, Loras returns to the sectional round for the third consecutive year and eighth time in program history.

Following Saturday's first round contests, Dubuque was hit with three inches of snow overnight, making plenty of work for Loras' support staff. By the time 5 o'clock rolled around, the field was ready for NCAA soccer.

Off the opening whistle, the Gusties displayed the style that they wanted to play on Sunday, completing numerous short passes amongst the backs and possessing the ball through the midfield. Loras, on the other hand, wanted to utilize their aerial attack and therefore played the ball up and forward every opportunity they had.

Early on, Gustavus forward Zach Brown got a step on sophomore Calvin Miller after Miller lost his footing, but a good supporting step from junior Sam Koenig and sophomore Jimmy Ralph prevented Brown from putting a shot on target. For the rest of evening, Brown would be limited in his effectiveness, largely in part to the marking by Miller. When Miller was lifted for a substitute, senior Mitch Burgmeier stepped right in and kept Brown in check, never missing a step.
In the 18th minute, junior Richard Lenke gained a step on his mark and found open space in the far corner. With a right-footed shot, Lenke forced Brett Ylonen to go down to make the save, one of nine he would make on the night.

A minute later, David Lilly's corner kick found the head of Patrick Leach who flicked the ball on frame, but sophomore Adam Roloff was there to lift it up and over the bar, giving the Gusties another corner. On the following service, the Duhawks cleared it out of their own penalty area and started back the other way.

With time dwindling down in the opening 45, junior Bryan Irwin was fouled in front of the Loras bench, 35 yards out from goal. Senior JD Perez lined up his free kick knowing that he wanted to find the head of senior Mike Pizzello. With a grace of his left foot, Perez delivered an absolute perfect ball, finding the head of Pizzello who flicked it on towards the back post and in to give Loras the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the half.

The goal advantage was just what the Duhawks needed heading into the halftime break, complementing their lead on the stat sheet. Loras held an 8-5 advantage in shots, 4-3 advantage in shots on goal, and a 3-2 advantage on corner kicks.

Knowing a one-goal advantage was not enough to keep a team like Gustavus Adolphus at bay, Loras came out firing in the second half, taking seven shots in the first eight minutes with four of them on target.

In the 57th minute, Leach lost his footing back in the Gustie end and turned the ball over to senior Dillon Olson. With Loras' forwards playing high pressure, Lenke was in the area to collect the pass from Olson and slot home the winner through the legs of Sam Leske to put the Duhawks ahead 2-nil.

Loras continued their momentum swing for the next 15 minutes, but eventually gave way to Gustavus as they put five forwards up top in search of a goal. In total, the Gusties registered six shots in the final 20 minutes, but only put one on frame, that coming in 75th off a shot by David Lilly.