WAVERLY, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Conceding an early goal is never ideal, but the Loras men's soccer team showed great resiliency and determination on Tuesday night to come from behind and defeat Wartburg, 2-1. Senior
Nick Nemmers blasted home the equalizer in the 36th minute before senior
Calvin Miller delivered the game-winner in the 69th minute.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
First Half
- Wartburg jumped out to an early lead, capitalizing on a chance less than two minutes in. After a sequence of clean passes, Ben Johnson sent home the go-ahead goal to give the Knights the early lead.
- Shortly after conceding the goal, Loras adjusted their formation to put increased pressure on Wartburg.
- As a result, the Duhawks peppered the Knights' backline with 15 shots, including six on target in the first half.
- Loras earned three consecutive corner kicks from the fourth minute to the ninth minute, but was only able to manage one shot, coming from senior Jonah Jacke.
- Junior Eddie Gonzalez nearly brought the match level with his shot in the 37th minute, but was denied by the post.
- The Duhawks' depth proved vital once again, finally breaking through in the 36th minute after Nemmers collected a loose ball and drilled a shot from distance, beating Wartburg's Gunnar Lenzen to the far post. Nemmers' goal is his third in two games and third in his career.
Second Half
- Loras continued with the high-pressure front, rattling off shot after shot in the opening minutes.
- In the 55th minute, the Duhawks pummeled the Wartburg goal with three shots, forcing a team save on the goal line and a follow up save by Lenzen.
- After conceding a corner to the Knights, Loras came right back down the pitch and earned a corner of their own in the 69th minute. Gonzalez provided the service into the box where freshman Mark Histed climbed the ladder and got just enough on his header to send the ball to Miller to blast home under the crossbar for the go-ahead goal.
- Wartburg narrowly missed out on finding the equalizer with a sequence of three consecutive corner kicks beginning in the 74th minute. Daniel Luzindya's shot was denied by the post and Paris Martins could only find the hands of junior goalkeeper Jacob Peterson, keeping the Duhawks in front on the scoreboard.
- In the waning minutes, Loras executed the game plan to perfection, maintaining possession and limiting Wartburg's time on the ball. A late corner kick by Jacke was played short to Bradley who used his strong frame to shield off the Knights' defenders in the corner to preserve the win.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Erik Ziolkowski | After coming on the first half as a sub, Ziolkowski controlled the air for Loras, winning countless 50-50 balls, helping the Duhawks push back into enemy territory.
UP NEXT
Loras welcomes Buena Vista to the Rock Bowl on Saturday for Senior Day. The Beavers dropped to 4-9-1 on the year after a 3-0 setback to Luther last Saturday.
