Men’s Soccer on Wrong Side of 2OT Instant Classic
Oct 29, 2014
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The chilly, windy conditions at Oyen Field gave way to a heated battle as the University of Dubuque men’s soccer team fell to Luther in two overtimes, 4-3.
The Spartans (6-8-3, 4-2-1 IIAC) and the Norse (15-2-1, 5-2 IIAC) were primed and ready for IIAC tournament soccer after both teams had already locked up home-field advantage in the first round. Barring an upset, the memorable shootout was simply a battle for seed no. 3.
It didn’t disappoint.
Luther’s Jon Gednalske, the IIAC’s leading goal-scorer, put the nail in the coffin with a golden goal in the 105th minute of the second overtime after leaping over the diving UD goalkeeper Riley Jensen. Prior to that moment, it was the late-game heroics of Gonzalo Hernandez that had gotten the Spartans on level ground to force overtime. The Spartans couldn’t quite seal the deal despite playing a man up for the last six minutes of regulation and the entirety of overtime.
Hernandez delivered in the 83rd minute as he netted his second goal of the night to even the score at 3-3. Just over a minute later, a red card was issued to a Norse defender after he fouled Hernandez inside the box to force a penalty kick attempt. Hernandez’s shot found a crease in the lower right corner of the goal but keeper Tommy Breen managed to deny it as he dove to the right. The Spartans couldn’t take advantage of an extra man and a corner kick opportunity as they headed to overtime.
The following overtime period continued the regulation fireworks after a combined five shots were launched, including two on goal. Saves by both keepers produced zero goals as they proceeded to overtime two.
Prior to the late-game drama it had been a game of runs for both teams. UD struck first thanks to a 32nd minute goal from Leo Lenth off a pinpoint assist into the box from Hernandez. Hernandez would tally his first score of the night, minutes later, as he connected from the left side of the box. Luther answered the 0-2 deficit with three scores of their own that included a deflected shot off the head of a UD defender and a well-timed header off a cross over 20 yds out.
Over the course of the game, Luther outshot UD by the slimmest of margins, 17-15, while each attempted nine shots on goal.
Overtime was familiar territory for both squads as they each played their fifth OT game of the year. The Spartans played their third double overtime affair in four games as their OT record dropped to 1-1-3. The Norse improved to 4-0-1 in such games.
It was a foul-plagued game for the Spartans and a scrappy bout after a total of four yellow cards and one red card were issued. UD was also called for 24 fouls against Luther’s seven. The Norse were a physical team after coming into today’s game with the most fouls committed and the most yellow cards received in the Iowa Conference.
UD welcomed the physicality and racked up three goals on a Luther team that had given up a mere 11 goals, including five in IIAC play, up to this point.
The Spartans dropped their second straight match to Luther and fell to 4-9-1 in the overall series. After losing their first five, UD has bounced back with a 4-3 record since 2008.
As the no. 4 seed in the IIAC tournament the Spartans will host no. 5 seed Simpson College in the first round this Saturday, October 29th at 3:00 pm. Simpson routed Central, 7-3, on Tuesday night in their IIAC finale. It is UD's eight straight year of qualifying for the IIAC tournament.
The time of game is subject to change.
