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Loras earns dramatic berth to NCAA tourney
Duhawks beat Wartburg on PK's to continue 08 season
Jon Denham, Sports Information Director

BOX SCORE

Conditions were bad in Waverly, Iowa, and the final thirty seconds of regulation probably felt even worse if you were cheering for the gold-clad Duhawks on Saturday. A final 45 minutes of action that saw four goals cross the line, two for each squad, and the overtime sessions didn't yield a game-winner.

The painful ticks of the clock to the end of regulation were the result of a Wartburg goal with just moments remaining that forced the overtime.

Seniors Alex Clesen and Torey Murray gave gutsy performances for Loras, and freshmen Jessica Kern, Kate Young, and Tonya Lohmeyer (pictured) scored three big goals in their first taste of the IIAC championship game. Kern scored the game's first goal in the 57th minute on a corner kick. Wartburg tied the match on an own goal in the 63rd. Young earned what appeared to be the game-winner in the 87th minute when she finished a Clesen pass. Disaster struck in the 90th minute when Wartburg's Annie Fangman tied the match to force overtime.

Only three shots were taken in the 20 minutes of overtime, and the Iowa Conference's automatic bid came down to penalty kicks for the second time in three years. Wartburg, shooting first, made each of their first two kicks and Loras' Alex Clesen and Jenna Kosek did the same. Tied at two, the first miss came from Fangman. Holly Wilson missed her shot for Loras and the teams remained tied at two after three shooters. Defending Iowa Conference MVP Rachel Oswald had her attempt saved by Torey Murray. Samantha Messacar gave Loras a 3-2 lead next. Wartburg's Katy Wendt tied it at three with one shooter remaining. That Duhawk was none other than Tonya Lohmeyer, who celebrates her birthday on Sunday, November 9th. Lohmeyer finished her chance and punched Loras' ticket to their seventh NCAA III Tournament and third by way of the shootout.

Loras is now 14-5-2 and awaits the selection committee's decision on where and when the Duhawks will play next.