DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras men's soccer team advanced to their third final four in four years on Monday, following a 2-1 victory over Wheaton College in overtime. This marks the programs fifth Final Four appearance in the last decade, dating back to 2007. Senior Justin Giacotto sent home the game-winner in the 98th minute for his fourth goal of the season and second game-winner.

TURNING POINT
After Wheaton (15-4-3) dominated much of the possession in the first half, Loras (17-4-1) made some key adjustments to begin the second half which began to open the field. Johnny Rummelhart's goal in the 64th minute of the match forced Wheaton to press the issue, which included putting numbers forward. While the Thunder would eventually equalize, the Duhawks continued to build their momentum through the rest of the half.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
Much like Loras' battle with DePauw on Friday, the Duhawks got off to a quick start by registering two chances in the first three minutes of action. Rummelhart was denied by Wheaton's back line who stepped in and prevented the early tally. Senior Kevin Higgins collected the rebound and sent his shot high of goal. The Thunder controlled a majority of the first half however, attempting three corner kicks and five shots with one on target. Wheaton held most of the possession, but at the end of the first 45 had little to show for it. Both sides combined for 16 fouls in the first half, which hampered either team from finding a rhythm.

SECOND HALF
The Duhawks turned a corner in the second half and made a couple key adjustments which led to them creating more offensive chances early on. After "the swarm" earned a throw-in deep in the Wheaton zone,  Loras played it short to junior Alex Bradley who created space and delivered a cross to the middle of the penalty area, connecting with Rummelhart who headed to the corner, beating the outstretched effort of Wheaton's Matt Paprocki for the go-ahead goal in the 64th minute.

With less than 25 minutes to play, the Thunder made five substitutions to put their big guns back on the pitch in an attempt to find the equalizer. Before Wheaton could register another shot, Loras took three more of their own, but only managed to put one on target, a shot from Giacotto that was saved by Paprocki.

In the 76th minute, two-time CCIW Player of the Year and 2014 D3Soccer.com Midfielder of the Year, Marshall Hollingsworth, broke free of his mark for a brief second, but that was all he needed to setup Stephen Golz for his eighth goal of the year. The equalizer brought the teams back to level pegging and that was how it would stay through the remainder of regulation.

OVERTIME
Thirty-three seconds into the overtime period, Wheaton's Nicholas Gaines pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area and sent the first-touch shot towards goal, only to be denied by sophomore goalkeeper Jacob Peterson. The save was Peterson's fourth of the day.

With the first overtime period winding to a close, seniors Mike Gordon and Richard Lenke broke through the Wheaton backline and found themselves on a 2v1, only to have Gordon's pass back to Lenke broke up by Paprocki, but the Duhawks earned a corner kick in the process. Bradley delivered the in-swinging service to the back post where senior Jorge Simon climbed the ladder and got a piece of it before being taken out of the play by Paprocki. The loose ball fell to Giacotto and fired home the game-winner through four Wheaton defenders on the goal line and lift the Duhawks into the Final Four.

Then as they have done so many times before, Loras raced for the stands and scampered through the snow piles for the customary Rock Bowl leap, which ironically began in 2007 following an overtime win against Wheaton. Mike Richter delivered the game-winner back on Nov. 10 in the 96th minute, which sent the Duhawks to the "Sweet 16" for the second time in program history.

SOUNDBITES | Dan Rothert & Sam Koenig

SOUNDBITES | Justin Giacotto & Johnny Rummelhart

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Justin Giacotto | The senior's fourth goal of the season couldn't have come at a better time, as it vaulted the Duhawks into the Final Four. Giacotto was a force on both ends of the field, playing toe to toe with one of Wheaton's best players.

UP NEXT
Loras will begin preparations immediately for their National Semifinal against top-ranked Calvin on Dec. 4 at Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri. The Knights advanced to the Final Four with a 1-nil decision over Franklin & Marshall in the "Elite 8" and come into their matchup with the Duhawks with an 24-0-1 record, including 19 shutouts. The last meeting between Loras and Calvin came in 2013 in Milwaukee, Wis. with the Duhawks claiming victory, 3-2.