DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's soccer team (12-4-0, 7-1-0 IIAC) clinched its 11th Iowa Conference championship with a 1–0 win over Luther. Freshman
Liam O'Connell notched the game-winner in the 81st minute on the doorstep to pace the Duhawks to the win. With the win, head coach
Dan Rothert clinches his 20th IIAC Title all-time.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
First Half
- Benjamin Keller reached a ball in the box and with his first touch, struck a shot far post that went wide of goal.
- In the 29th minute, a bouncing ball inside Luther's 18 was found by O'Connell and with his back to goal lofted a shot that was saved by Will Blain.
- Rafael Broseghini had the ball 30 yards from goal and created space before delivering a shot that sailed over the cross bar.
Second Half
- In the 53rd minute, a blocked shot fell to the feet of Bruns who on his second touch roped a shot over the crossbar.
- Luther earned a free kick and on the second ball out of the air, Andrew Avram lined a shot, that fortunately for Loras, caromed off the post.
- Loras nearly had the go-ahead goal when senior Austin Jacobi skipped his pass along the six, but no Duhawk was in the area for the bangoo goal.
- Senior Alex Bradley served in a hard corner in the 74th minute, only to denied by the post.
- The Duhawks found the game-winner in the 81st minute when a Loras throw-in was flicked on by senior Erik Ziolkowski to the near post where O'Connell was waiting to jam it in.
- Loras spent the next nine minutes in protection mode and kept the Norse off the scoreboard to preserve the victory, securing sole possession of the IIAC Regular Season Championship and the program's 11th title.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Anthony Berardi I The freshman sweeper executed his game plan to perfection in the back, preventing scoring chances from opposing forwards and disrupting the Norse's rhythm in the final third.
SOUNDBITES | Dan Rothert
UP NEXT
Following the win, Loras has secured the No. 1 seed for the IIAC Tournament and therefore earned a bye to the semifinal round, which will be played next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Duhawks face the winner of the No. 4 seeded Central and fifth-seeded Simpson, with that match being played on Saturday.
