The word ‘challenge’ was on the minds of the Wartburg players as they took the field Sunday night against the Duhawks.
Going into Saturday night’s match Wartburg’s coach TJ Buchholz knew his team would face an uphill battle against the number three nationally-ranked Loras Duhawks.
“We have to pray,” said Buchholz, describing what his team would have to do to defeat the Duhawks. “We will have to bring our best 90 minutes of soccer we have played this season.”
The Loras squad has been no stranger to challenges this season bringing in an 18-1-1 record coming into the championship.
“Every team gets up to play us,” explained Rothert. “Last year, we learned a lot in regards to playing with a target on our back, but we are used to it now. We know we have to weather early pressure from opponents, but feel confident we know how to at this point. We have come to like that challenge.”
Read recaps of the weekend’s conference tournament matchups: Here
Wartburg narrowly escapes a Loras shot on goal in the first half.
The Duhawks were up to that challenge early in the second half with Miguel Bonilla squeaking through the Wartburg defense to net his 17th goal of the season. He was assisted by senior midfielder Nate Minkel.
Wartburg would fight back the rest of the half, taking Loras’ All-Americans, Miguel Bonilla and Santiago Mejia out of the match due to the play of their back line.
Sophomore defender Mike Miniaci for Wartburg was matched up against Bonilla all night, only allowing him one shot on goal, a shot he capitalized on.
“I have to give it to my back line.” said Miniaci. “I knew if I stepped up and applied the pressure they were right there to get my back. We’re a tight knit unit.”
In the 78th minute the pressure final gave in for the Duhawks. Kyle McKenna, a defenseman for the Knights, sailed a shot from twenty yards out over the top of Loras’ keepers out stretched fingers to tie up the game. He was assisted by freshman Brandon Cook.
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Loras would prove to have a pivotal injury in the second half. Junior, Matt Lamale, a key offensive player for the Duhawks was forced out of the match with an injury half way through the second.
Matt Lamale (3) would be forced out of the game with an injury.
Regulation came to an end with a one to one tie.
After a scoreless first overtime the Knights overtook the Duhawks on a golden goal late in the second overtime with a shot from Junior Luke Prater that sailed past Loras goalkeeper Adam Kelsch. Prater was assisted by Freshman Brandon Cook, who recorded his second on the night.
“It was amazing, I can’t even describe it,” said Cook after celebrating with his teammates after their automatic NCAA berth.
As the Knights celebrated their victory with their fans an orange harvest moon stood above the Rock Bowl. A fitting sign after Wartburg earns its sixth NCAA bid in a row.
“This is one of the best games I have been a part of,” said coach Buchholz. “We had to play the entire 90 minutes and we didn’t quit. That is the best I have seen us play all season.”
“More to come,” were the words of Brandon Cook as him and his teammates posed for a team photo after living up to the challenge of beating the Duhawks.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. Lots more to come,” finished Cook.
Both teams will find out Monday where and who they will play in the NCAA tournament.
