Spartans Finish Season with School Record 16 Wins
Nov 9, 2013 | J.Crane
DUBUQUE, IOWA - The University of Dubuque Women's Soccer team had their season come to end on Saturday night in the Iowa Conference Tournament Championship Game. The Spartans were unable to overcome an early deficit in the 2-0 loss to Loras College. UD has made it to the IIAC Tournament Finals in back-to-back years and three of the last five years. Dubuque finishes the 2013 season with a 16-5-0 record.
The Spartans earned a trip to the Finals with a 1-0 victory on the road at Luther on Wednesday, avenging a 2-0 loss during the regular season. UD won 3-0 against Simpson at Oyen Field in the First Round. Dubuque has qualified for the IIAC Tournament ten straight years.
Liz Frazier (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) led the UD offense with three shots including two on goal. The Spartans and Duhawks played a scoreless second half as each team finished with two shots on goal in the period.
Goalkeeper Tiffany Duncan (Hartford, Wis./Hartford Union), the new UD single season wins leader, finished with five saves while allowing two goals.
UD turned up the pressure early in the second half with two good looks as Riley Mayer (Racine, Wis./Union Grove) had her shot blocked by a Loras defender in front of the goal and Alexandra Watkins (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) put a shot on goal.
Loras scored in the 12th and 31st minute to secure the victory and the Iowa Conference automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
A big reason for the Spartans success this season was the consistency in the starting lineup as Duncan, Watkins, Kelsey Graefen (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central), Melanie Prudhomme (Lakemoor, Ill./Wauconda), Melissa Sawyer (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North), Megan Siepler (La Canada, Calif./La Canada), and Lauren Waddell (Poplar Grove, Ill./Belvidere) started all 21 games this year.
The 2013 Spartans set school records with 16 wins, 10 home wins, and six consecutive wins. In addition, the Spartans allowed the fewest goals in school history with only 18 goals against.
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