DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – On a rainy and overcast day in Dubuque, the Duhawks returned to the Rock Bowl on Friday, September 5, to take on the Augsburg Auggies. The Duhawks were unable to carry over the momentum from their 2-0 win over Carroll on Tuesday and fell to the Auggies 2-1.
Katie Truesdale scored the Duhawks' lone goal in the 51' but Augsburg battled back scoring in the 59' and 81' handing Loras their second loss of the season.
The first half was dominated by play in the midfield for both the Duhawks and the Auggies. Both teams connected well in the middle but struggled to find the feet of their forwards. Senior
Claire Murphy made her presence known throughout the first half on both sides of the ball. The Tinley Park native was quick to the ball on defense and pushed the tempo on offense.
In the first 45, Loras sent five shots the way of Auggie goalkeeper, Lucy Bukowski, while Augsburg sent three shots to Wilson. Both keepers were on point, turning their opponents away.
After the halftime break, the Duhawks came out sharp, connecting their passes through the midfield and into the attacking third. Truesdale earned a look on frame in the 46', breaking through the Augsburg backline, but freshman Marissa Guillou turned away the scoring opportunity. Truesdale would have her efforts rewarded minutes later as she slipped through and lofted the go-ahead goal up and over Guillou who had came off her line.
The Auggies were undeterred by the Duhawk goal and tried their hand at the offensive end of the field, testing Wilson with two shots before making it on the board in the 59'. Marta Anderson maneuvered her way around two Duhawks in the top corner of the box to rip a shot towards the back post, just out the reach of Wilson for the equalizer.
The second half quickly turned into a battle of the offenses once the score was leveled out. Wilson was tested again in the 59' when Carter Denison ripped a shot at the crossbar but the defense was quick to pounce on the loose ball, clearing it out of danger. Kaitlyn Terrio challenged Wilson again, just six minutes later, but she dove to her right to make the save.
On the other end of the field, the Duhawks kept the pressure on Guillou. Their consistent presence in the attacking third earned a number of corners for Loras in the second half. Sophomore
Gen Kapecki contributed well as an outside forward with Truesdale and junior
Ailish Rispin up top.
The Auggies earned a free kick in the 79' from just outside the Duhawk box that fell to the feet of
Riley O'Neill who cleared it out of danger. The Waterloo native has assumed the sweeper role on defense and has shown great strides in her game early in her career.
Just four minutes later, O'Neill's luck ran out as she inadvertently took the legs out from under Morgan Kenny to give the Auggies a penalty kick in the 81'. Abi Rodstein set the ball up on the penalty spot in front of Wilson and sent to ball low to the left of diving Wilson for the game-winner.
With the lead in hand, Augsburg became a possession heavy side, working the ball deep into the corner and preventing Loras from building any sort of a comeback. The Duhawks' best chance came in the final minute, as senior
Alexa Eggert found space inside the 18, but pulled her shot high and away from goal.
With the loss, Loras drops to 2-2 on the year and is still winless in the Rock Bowl.
On Sunday, Loras will look to get their third win of the season on the road against tough side in Augustana College. In their 2013 matchup, the teams drew a 0-0 tie after 110 minutes of play. The Vikings returned their two top scorers in Kelly Farrel and Jessa Rizzo who combined for 17 goals and seven assists last season. O'Neill and her defensive corps will need to be at the top of their game come Sunday for Loras to right the ship.
Kick off is set for 6 p.m.
