DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's soccer team (8-4-0, 4-1-0 IIAC) won its third consecutive match, defeating Buena Vista, 7-3, Saturday in the Rock Bowl on Senior Day. Senior
Alex Bradley finished the match with a goal and three assists, scoring in the fifth minute to give the Duhawks an early lead and spark the offensive barrage.
FIRST HALF
- Bradley gave his team an early lead when in the fifth minute he diced a Buena Vista defender and bent a shot that pinged off the far post and into the back of the net.
- Fellow senior Calvin Miller doubled the Duhawk lead in the sixth minute, directing his header on target and benefited from a deflection by a Beaver defender.
- Buena Vista got on the scoreboard in the eighth minute when a misjudged service fell to Willy Salamanca with an empty net in front of him.
- In the 22nd minute, Bradley flicked the ball onto Moore who was in all alone on goal and lazered his shot past a diving Tennyson to the far post.
- On a Buena Vista corner at the end of the first half, Luis Salazar found the loose ball in the box and challenged senior goalkeeper Adam Roloff to his left, making the diving save.
SECOND HALF
- Senior Kyler Olson opened the second half approaching the end line after beating his defender. Olson's low-cross was dummied by a pair of Loras forwards before senior Erik Ziolkowski redirected his shot into the twine.
- Senior Nick Nemmers extended his match scoring streak to three when he cleaned up a feed from Bradley inside the Buena Vista 18 to give Loras the 5-1 lead.
- Minutes later, Buena Vista earned a free kick right outside the Loras penalty area and Gum Riak scored his seventh goal of the season, beating Roloff to the far post.
- The Beavers struck the scoreboard again in the 58th minute when Tui Hunkin converted from the penalty spot to cut the Duhawk lead to 5–3.
- Loras quickly regrouped thanks to a perfect service from freshman Alex Herrera on a corner. Herrera served the ball near post and sophomore Ryan Ross delivered the simple touch to beat the keeper.
- Freshman Mark Histed nearly connected for his first collegiate goal when he dribbled the ball to the top of the box and struck a shot with pace that was saved and deflected off the post.
- Senior Chizobam Nkemeh tallied his first goal in the Purple and Gold in the 68th minute, when he took possession of a through ball from Ross and slotted his shot back across the goal to extend Loras' lead to 7-3.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Alex Bradley | The forward made his presence felt Saturday afternoon when he totaled up a goal and three assists. Bradley's goal in the fifth minute was his sixth of the season and spearheaded the Duhawk attack.
UP NEXT
Loras returns to the pitch on Sunday for an afternoon matinee against Elmhurst. The Blue Jays are coming off a win at home, edging Wheaton 1-0. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
