DULUTH, Minn. (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's soccer team started their weekend in Duluth, Minn. with a dominate 4–0 win over St. Scholastica. Four different goal scorers worked into the mix with another three recording points on assists. Senior
Calvin Miller tallied the game-winner from the penalty spot for his second goal in as many games. The Duhawks improve to 3–0–0 on the year with the win.
FIRST HALF
- Loras earned a free kick in the Saints' half with junior Spencer Moore on to take it. The Arlington Heights, Ill. native struck his shot towards goal, but right at Corrado Rosato for an easy save.
- Freshman Mark Histed nearly had his first collegiate goal of his career when Moore crossed a ball into the box that sophomore Ryan Ross deflected with his left foot towards the penalty spot. Histed was waiting there unmarked and with the ball in the air headed it back the towards the direction it came, but caromed off the far post.
- The Duhawks finally struck on the scoreboard when junior Eddie Gonzalez's ripped a shot that hit a defender's hand who was standing inside the box. The center official immediately singled for a penalty where Miller strolled in and beat Rosato to give Loras the lead 1–0.
- Loras stayed on the attack and were rewarded minutes later with a free kick opportunity in the 24th minute. Moore took the free kick on the near side outside of the 18 and sent the ball over the wall to the near post. Rosato got an outstretched hand on it, but Ross was there to clean up the rebound for his first goal of the season, giving his team the 2–0 lead.
- Trailing by two, St. Scholastica upped their offensive focus on the transition, registering the first shot in the 27th minute, only to be blocked by Loras' backline.
- Junior Marcus Singleton was in possession of the ball on the end line in the 32nd minute and with a slick move on the ball, Singleton turned his mark and delivered the bangoo to senior Jonah Jacke who smashed home the winner, increasing the Duhawks' lead to 3–0.
- Junior Jacob Peterson was called on to make his biggest save of the day in the 44th minute when a first shot attempt from the Saints' Darby Henderson was blocked before falling to Kyle Farrar who blasted his shot from the penalty spot, only to be denied by a sliding Peterson.
SECOND HALF
- Off a free kick in their own end, St. Scholastica booted a ball down the far sideline where Shawayne Folkes ran onto it and sent a screamer on goal that Peterson had to tip over the crossbar to keep the Saints scoreless.
- In the 51st minute, St. Scholastica's Amin Bobaric served the ball right into the center of the box off a corner kick, but Peterson was quick off his line to punch it away from danger.
- Minutes later, Histed delivered a high, bouncing ball into the box where Ross created space and struck a shot that was initially blocked. When the sophomore attempted to regain possession, he was sent to the ground without a call despite the appeal from Ross and the rest of the Loras bench.
- In the 71st minute, junior Michael Perhats dribbled the ball down the far sideline and crossed a ball towards the far post of goal where Rosato had to leap to push it wide for a Loras throw-in.
- Loras tacked on an insurance goal in the 72nd minute thanks to a dime delivery from freshman Alex Herrera to fellow freshman Liam O'Connell. After having a goal stolen from him against Albion, O'Connell made the most of his header attempt, beating Rosato to the near post to increase the Loras lead to 4–0.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Calvin Miller I The senior defender provided a touch of offense to his game on Saturday, collecting the game-winner from the penalty spot. The Niles, Ill. native was a force defensively from the start and used great leadership in the back to help keep the St. Scholastica at bay and off the scoreboard.
UP NEXT
Loras' weekend trip to Minnesota concludes on Sunday afternoon with a 3 p.m. kickoff against St. Norbert. On Saturday, the Green Knights suffered a 2–0 setback on Saturday evening against St. Olaf, conceding a pair of second half goals to the Oles.
SOUNDBITES