DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Following the Duhawks victory in penalty kicks (3-2) over No. 2 seeded Coe College on Wednesday, Loras will head to Waverly, Iowa for the Iowa Conference Tournament Championship against the top-seeded Wartburg. Loras suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Knights in the regular season. Saturday's winner will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
LORAS | After securing the No. 3 seed for the 2015 Iowa Conference Tournament, the Duhawks have rattled off two consecutive postseason victories to make it to the conference championship game. Loras has won six consecutive matches dating back to October 17 against Luther, with their latest coming against Coe via penalty kicks.
WARTBURG | Wartburg enters this match on a seven-match winning streak. After earning the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, the Knights defeated Luther by a final score of 2-0. The Knights scored two goals in the second half to put the Norse away despite trailing in shots 15-12.
STAT LEADERS – OFFENSE
LORAS | Loras is led on offense by the conference's top two goal scorers in
Katie Truesdale and
Danielle Vujovic. The senior duo provided the Duhawks with 10 goals throughout conference play during the regular season. Both players rank in the top three for total points in the Iowa Conference.
WARTBURG | Offensively Wartburg is led by Morgan Neuendorf and Alyssa Drewelow. Neuendorf led the team with nine goals and 19 points during the regular season while Drewelow finished with 17 points on eight goals. Drewelow added the insurance goal in the 81st minute of Wartburg's second round victory over Luther.
STAT LEADERS – GOALKEEPER
LORAS | Loras has come away with six straight decisions following the switch to freshman
Michelle Loyo in goal. Loyo has provided the Duhawks with stability in the net with a .830 save percentage in seven starts. Behind Loyo, the Duhawks have a 5-1-2 record this season. Teams have scored just four goals in Loyo's last six starts.
WARTBURG | Wartburg boasts the second best goalkeeper in the Iowa Conference in terms of goals against average and save percentage. Sophomore Beth Crow has recorded a .858 save percentage alongside allowing just 0.83 goals per game in 2015. Her shutout of Luther in the conference tournament was her eighth clean sheet of the season and the 15th of her young career.
