DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras Men's Soccer team made their case as a national title contender on Tuesday night in the Rock Bowl with a convincing 2-nil decision over the second-ranked Wheaton College Thunder. Junior Alex Bradley scored the game-winner in the 12th minute and senior Johnny Rummelhart added the insurance marker in the 65th minute to seal the win, as Loras improved to 3-0 on the young season.
 

The Thunder came in as the No. 2 team in the country based on the NSCAA Preseason Rankings. In their opening weekend of play, the Thunder tasted defeat for the first time, falling in overtime to Washington-St. Louis, 3-2. Wheaton returned three all-americans from a year ago and were looking to get back on track against the Duhawks.
 

From the opening whistle, as usual, Loras implied their swarm pressure on Wheaton's field players. The presence of Noah Gulley (6-5 / 240) was felt early on, as he was able to put a head on 50-50 balls over Loras' backline. As the half began to wear on, Gulley's effectiveness was controlled thanks to tight man-marking and the overlapping coverage from senior Sam Koenig.
 

In the 12th minute, junior Calvin Miller played a big ball forward from shy of the midfield line, sending Rummelhart on a chase to the end line. The Iowa City native just barely kept the ball in play and dished to Bradley who had an open area near the corner of the 18 to deliver a bending ball into the side netting and put his side ahead 1-nil.
 

Loras narrowly missed an opportunity to double their lead in the 30th minute when junior Austin Jacobi combined with sophomore Ike Bruns on a 2-on-1 run, but Jacobi couldn't quite find the touch on his shot, sending it high over goal.
 

With 45 minutes played, Loras held a 10-4 advantage on shots and a 6-2 advantage for shots on goal.
 

The second half brought with it more pressure from Loras and Wheaton clawing and scratching to find the equalizer. In the 65th minute, the Duhawks moved up the pitch and after a missed pass from sophomore Spencer Moore, senior Tyler Cruikshank sent the ball back into the box where Rummelhart had his initial shot blocked. Rummelhart continued with the play, sending his left-footed shot soaring into the upper-90 and giving Loras a two-goal advantage.
 

Wheaton did everything they could to equalize, including pushing numbers forward and bringing Marshall Hollingsworth up from his midfield position to join the attack, but each Thunder attempt was met with a stout Loras defensive effort.
 

With nine minutes remaining, a broken play in Loras' defensive third resulting in a 2-on-1 opportunity for Wheaton, but the play was spoiled by an errant shot from Stephen Golz that sailed wide of the frame.
 

The win improves Loras' record against Wheaton to 6-2-1 in the last eight meetings, dating back to the 2006 season. The win also is Loras' first over a top-two opponent in program history since their win over North Carolina Wesleyan in the "Elite 8" round of the 2007 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament.
 

GOAL SUMMARY
12' | LOR | Alex Bradley (Johnny Rummelhart) | After saving the ball off the end line, Rummelhart served up Bradley with a perfect ball to strike and send into side netting

65' | LOR | Johnny Rummelhart (Unassisted) | With most of the Wheaton defense wanting an offsides call, Rummelhart took his shot from inside the penalty area only to have his initial attempt blocked. He then followed up his original effort with a shot with his left foot that sailed into the twine.


KEY SAVES AND PLAYS
21' | LOR | Alex Bradley broke free inside the penalty area and blasted a shot with his left foot, only to be denied by Matt Paprocki
72' | WC | Marshall Hollingsworth ripped a point-blank shot from 15 yards out, but directed it right at Jacob Peterson who made the save
78' | LOR | Ian Lenke went hard after a ball in his own defensive area and fought hard to gain good position, resulting in a foul called on the Wheaton forward, giving Loras possession late in the game.

81' | WC | After a broken play in Loras' defensive third, Wheaton had a 2-on-1 opportunity but sailed their shot wide of goal


THE FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Johnny Rummelhart | With an assist on the game-winner in the first half after saving the ball off the end line and then added an insurance goal in the second half, Johnny Rummelhart earned The Friedman Group Player of the Game honors.


LINEUPS
LOR | Jacob Peterson (GK), Sam Koenig, Johnny Rummelhart, Kevin Higgins, Alex Bradley, Richard Lenke, Tyler Cruikshank, Justin Giacotto, Spencer Moore, Calvin Miller, Bryan Irwin
WC | Matt Paprocki (GK), Reed Bartley, Eliott Borge, Max Carey, Noah Gulley, Nicholas Gaines, Marshall West, Jon Clark, Ben Bakke, Marshall Hollingsworth, Tyler Robbins


UP NEXT
The Duhawks will welcome Saint John's to the Rock Bowl on Saturday evening for a non-conference showdown. When these teams met in Minnesota a year ago, Loras came away with a 2-1 decision. The Johnnies enter the weekend with a 2-1-0 overall record.