Contact: Nathan Cameron, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7243

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (Nov. 14, 2021) - Making their first NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament appearance since 2017, the Loras College men's soccer team (14-7-2, 5-2-1 A-R-C) met up with the No. 12 St. Olaf College Oles in the Second Round after downing the North Central College Cardinals on Saturday afternoon to advance in the Tournament. After earning the automatic qualifier bid into the Tournament as the 2021 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Tournament Champions, the Duhawks' postseason run comes to a close on the national stage. 

In his second season at the helm of the program, head coach Steven McCarthy led the Duhawks to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in his tenure. The first round victory saw Reed Miklavcic net two to guide the Duhawks past the Cardinals and into the Round of 32 to square off against the hosts from St. Olaf. 

The first half saw the score stay unchanged as both sides had a number of chances but neither side capitalized through the first 20 minutes before the Oles struck first in the 22nd minute. Another St. Olaf goal in the 33rd minute put the hosts up by two going into the half time break. 

The Duhawks again took advantage of a number of opportunities in the attacking zone in the second half, taking four shots total on the Oles but St. Olaf goalkeeper Jordan Oberholtzer fought off the Loras attack. Two second half goals from the Oles brought the score to the final 4-0. 

National Tournament intensity was on display between the two teams, as both sides racked up 14 fouls in the game while seven cards were shown in the 90 minutes of regulation. 

The Duhawks end the year with a final record of 14-7-2, tying for second in the A-R-C regular season standings with a 5-2-1 record and claiming the 2021 A-R-C Tournament title. Eight Duhawks earned A-R-C All-Conference accolades and two received recognition by the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) for their excellence in the classroom as CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees.