PREVIEWING THE SPARTANS ...
University of Dubuque enters Wednesday's contest with a 7-8-3 overall record with a 4-2-1 record in the Iowa Conference during the regular season.

Last Saturday, the Spartans eliminated Simpson College from the conference tournament with a 3-1 decision. It is their first appearance in the semifinal round since the 2012 season when they were eliminated by Central College, 2-1.

In their regular season matchup, the Duhawks had trouble finding the back of the net despite putting nine shots on target. The difference in the game came in the 10th minute when senior Tom Fluegel's corner kick caught Riley Jensen off guard and the keeper bobbled the ball into his own net.

The Spartans were forced to play a man down after the 54th minute when Leo Lenth was sent off after receiving a straight red card.

Gonzalo Hernandez leads the offensive attack for Dubuque, scoring nine goals and adding five assists. Back on October 1, Hernandez was held in check, registering three shots, but unable to put any of them on frame.

In the regular season finale against Luther, Hernandez missed a penalty kick in the 84th minute which would have put the Spartans ahead with little time left in regulation.

Brandon Wiley is right on the heels of Hernandez offensively, tallying eight goals and three assists for 19 points. After Wiley, there's a significant drop in production as only three other members of the squad have scored multiple goals.

CROSSTOWN RIVALS MEET IN POSTSEASON ...
The Duhawks will meet University of Dubuque in the Iowa Conference Tournament for the first time since 2010. That game, played in the Rock Bowl, featured five goals scored in the second half. In the end, the Duhawks came out on top thanks to a strike in the 81st minute from Miguel Bonilla.

That year, Loras would go on to the Sweet 16 before falling to UW-Oshkosh, 2-0.

EXTENDED BREAK ...
When Loras takes the field on Wednesday night, they'll be playing in their first game since Tuesday, October 29, a span of eight days. The longest the Duhawks have gone between games this season is seven, back in October with the beginning of conference play.

LORAS CLINCHES THIRD STRAIGHT IIAC TITLE ...
The Duhawks wrapped up their ninth Iowa Conference Regular Season Championship with a 3-1 victory over No. 13 Wartburg College on Saturday, October 25. The Class of 2015 capped their final regular season game knowing that they will have playoff soccer to return to in the Rock Bowl.

A LOOK BACK TO 2012 ...
The last time Loras entered the Iowa Conference Tournament with an undefeated record, they cruised to a 6-nil win over Simpson in the semifinals before winning the crown with a 2-1 victory over Central. The goal Central scored was the first that Loras had allowed in conference play all season.

2014 is the only the fourth time in 14 seasons that Loras has entered the conference tournament with an unblemished conference record (2014, 2012, 2009, 2007). In all but one year, Loras went on to win the conference tournament.

PIZZELLO LIGHTING THE LAMP ...
The offensive eruption from senior Mike Pizzello has been a pleasant surprise for the Duhawks this season. In his previous two seasons on varsity, Pizzello registered five goals and four assists. To date, Pizzello has 11 goals and one assist, marking the first Duhawk to tally double digit goals since 2010, when Miguel Bonilla finished with 10 goals and seven assists.