Spartans Improve to 7-1 at Home
Oct 19, 2013 | J.Crane
DUBUQUE, IOWA - The University of Dubuque Women's Soccer team tied a school record for home wins in a season with their seventh win of the year on Oyen Field. The Spartans defeated Wartburg 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. Alexandra Watkins (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) became the fourth Spartan to score 100 career points with her game winning goal in the 72nd minute of play. UD is 11-4-0 overall and 3-2 in the Iowa Conference.
The Spartans took a 1-0 lead over Wartburg in the 29th minute of play after a hand ball by the Knights set up a UD free kick. With the ball set near the endline, Liz Frazier (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) sent a cross to the back post. As the ball passed through the crowd Kelsey Graefen (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) drilled the header into the back of the net for the only goal of the first half. Dubuque held a 3-0 advantage in shots on goal in the first period.
Wartburg tied the game at 1-1 with a goal in the 55th minute after a loose ball in the box following a corner kick.
UD took the lead for good when Watkins took a throw-in and dribbled through the Knight defense towards the center of the field. Watkins spun towards the goal and shot from 25 yards out to beat the keeper to the lower right corner. The unassisted goal put the Spartans ahead 2-1 at the 72:53 mark in the game.
Goalkeeper Tiffany Duncan (Hartford, Wis./Hartford Union) finished with five saves including three in the final 11 minutes. Duncan, the reigning Iowa Conference Defensive Performer of the Week, picked up her 11th win of the year.
Duncan, Graefen, Watkins, Katie Lynn, Melanie Prudhomme, Melissa Sawyer, Megan Siepler, and Lauren Waddell have been in the starting lineup for all 15 games this season.
The win on Saturday also clinched a spot in the Iowa Conference Tournament for the 10th straight year for UD.
UP NEXT: The Spartans will step out of the IIAC for a matchup with Carthage College on October 22nd. Game time at Oyen Field is 5:00 pm.
LIVE Video/Stats available at: UD Women's Soccer Video/Stats
Follow all UD Athletics action on Twitter at: @UDubuqueSports
