DUBUQUE, Iowa – Men's soccer went on the road and defeated top seeded Loras College 1-0 in the American Rivers Conference Championship. The Knights advance to the 2023 NCAA Tournament with the A-R-C's automatic bid.
Match Summary
- First Half
- Each team has early shot attempts off target early in the match
- The Duhawks recorded the first shot on goal in the 13th minute and then the Knights answered a minute later when Paul Devine fired a shot on goal
- After a shot from Edvin Rizvic was blocked, Devine recorded another shot on goal that was saved
- Brennon Woody made another save in the 39th minute and neither team was able to score in the first half
- Second Half
- A shot in the 51st minute from Alima Mmunga was barely saved by the Loras keeper and led to a Wartburg corner kick
- Devine's corner kick was played on the far side of the field and then deflected to Curtis Ratzer, who rocketed a shot past the keeper into the net to put Wartburg ahead 1-0
- The Knights defended back-to-back Lora corner kicks minutes later
- Both sides played physical defense throughout the match, making it hard for either team to get in a rhythm offensively
- Woody made huge saves in the 75th minute and 81st minute to keep the Duhawks off the scoreboard
- Wartburg held off Loras for a 1-0 victory
Top Performers
- Ratzer
- Game-winning Goal
- 90 minutes played
- Devine
- Two shots on goal
- Corner kick led to eventual goal
- 75 minutes played
- Woody
- Shutout
- Four saves
- 90 minutes played
Notes/Streaks
- First A-R-C Tournament title since 2014
- 6-4-1 in finals against Loras
- Eighth career goal for Ratzer
- Third game-winner this season
- 15th shutout this season
- Ties Wartburg team school record
- Knights move to 12-1-6 overall
- 27th career shutout for Woody
Next Time Out
Wartburg has earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will await the bracket release set for Monday, Nov. 6. At 1 p.m.
