DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras women's soccer team enters the week with a 5-3-0 overall record after falling to now-No. 6 UW-Whitewater, 3-2 last Wednesday. Travel will be at a minimum this week as the Duhawks face the University of Dubuque on Wednesday before hosting Central inside the Rock Bowl on Saturday.

LAST TIME OUT
Against UW-Whitewater last week, the Duhawks were down 2–0 at half, but with the help of a brace from junior Gretchen Schutz, Loras climbed back in the match and leveled in the 71st minute. The Lodi, Wis. native has caught fire offensively in the previous two matches, tallying nine points with four goals and an assist. Schutz now has 10 points total and is one shy of tying her career-best mark from a season ago.

WEEKLY PREVIEW
The Spartans (5-5-1, 1-1-0) host the Duhawks on Wednesday night after dropping their first IIAC contest of the year against Nebraska Wesleyan, 3–2. Kickoff between the crosstown rivals is set for 5 p.m. On Saturday, Loras will welcome a red-hot Central squad to town. The Dutch (9–1–1, 1–0–0) enter the week of play on a nine-game win streak with their last victory coming on Sunday in a 3-0 win over Cornell. Central finished with a 9–6–2 record last season and is in position to challenge for the Iowa Conference crown. In Wednesday action, the Dutch play host Simpson.

KEEP UP WITH THE DUHAWKS 
Wednesday's match against Dubuque will have live stats and video provided, while fans will be treated to a Duhawk Broadcast Network Production on Saturday, with both the live stream and live stats provided via the SIDEARM Sports platform, courtesy of Tri-State Travel.

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE SPARTANS 
Loras owns the all-time record against Dubuque at a mark of 17-2-1. The two sides last met during the IIAC Quarterfinal match in which the Duhawks advanced to the semifinal by defeating Dubuque, 2-0 inside the Rock Bowl. Junior Riley O'Neill claimed the game-winner with a strike in the 22nd minute off a free kick. An insurance tally came from fellow junior Maura Walsh in the 75th minute to push Loras into the IIAC Semifinals.

SPARTANS TO WATCH OUT FOR 
Lauren Cangelosi comes off a freshman season where she recorded six points to earn All-IIAC Honorable Mention. This sophomore has already broken her point total from 2015 with three goals and five assists for 11 total points. 

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE DUTCH 
The Duhawks own the upper hand in the all-time battle with Central with a record of 17-3-1. When the sides met in the 2015 regular seasons, Central owned a 1–0 halftime lead, but Loras managed to bring the game level with a goal from junior Sydney Wright in the 58th minute. Neither team was able to find the go-ahead goal in the remaining time and the game concluded with the scoreboard showing a 1-1 scoreline. 

DUTCH TO WATCH OUT FOR
Central has been led by the play of Kallie Holte, Kayla Sunvold and goalkeeper Sydney Lunardi. Kallie Holte comes into this week of play leading her team in points with 18, which includes eight goals and two assists. Kayla Sunvold, a 2015 Second Team All-IIAC honoree, currently has four goals and seven assists for a total of 15 points. Sydney Lunardi is also a 2015 Second Team All-IIAC member to go along with a 2015 Third Team All-North Region nod has been consistent for the Dutch this season. Lunardi leads the IIAC in goals against average at a mark of 0.64, totaling 28 saves and an .848 save percentage.

RACE TO THE SCOREBOARD 
Of the Duhawks eight matches played to date, six have been decided by a single goal. All five of Loras' wins have come when they have scored first, owning a 5–1 record in those contests. The defensive unit for the Duhawks have stood tall and defended those late leads to near perfection, a trait that will continue to pay off as the season progresses.

SCHUTZ LEADING THE WAY
Junior Gretchen Schutz has been leading the attack for the Duhawks so far in 2016 with four goals and two assists for a total of 10 points. With the bulk of the conference schedule set to pick up over the next few weeks, Loras will need Schutz to keep leading the offensive attack and generate scoring chances in what appears to be a competitive Iowa Conference once again.

MILLS PUSHING THE PACE
Sophomore Elizabeth Mills has proven she is an offensive force to be reckoned with at the halfway point in the 2016 season. Despite failing to post a goal yet this season, Mills' combative style of play has helped push the pace for the Duhawk attack, creating scoring opportunities for her teammates at all positions. When she is not distributing from her attacking midfield position, Mills is not afraid to take chances at goal, averaging 3.63 shots per game.

JUNIOR CLASS MAKING AN IMPACT 
The Class of 2018 is represented in 15 spots on the Duhawks' roster this season. Nine juniors have started at least one match this season, while 12 of them have appeared in at least one game. Loras' top-two offensive threats in Gretchen Schutz and Sydney Wright are both members of the junior class, combining for seven goals and 16 points. 

UNSTOPPABLE DEFENSIVE LINE
The Duhawks have witnessed first hand the importance of defense with a number of close contests through the first month of the season. Outside of Central, who they will see on Saturday, Loras owns one of the toughest defenses in the IIAC, allowing seven goals in eight contests. With plenty of leadership in the back, including senior goalkeeper Maria Siebels, the Duhawk defense will be a cornerstone of the success to come in the final month of the regular season.