DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque men's soccer team opened conference play and celebrated Homecoming on Wednesday, October 7, against the Coe College Kohawks. Playing in front of the home crowd at Oyen Field, the Spartans dominated the match from start to finish, scoring four goals on their way to a commanding 4-0 victory.
From the opening whistle, the Spartans showed they were ready to open conference play, winning nearly every duel and consistently staying one step ahead of the Kohawks. At 17:53,
Ryan Tapper picked up the ball just outside the penalty area, took a few quick steps, and fired a powerful shot into the near corner. The Kohawks goalkeeper got a hand to the shot, but it was not enough to keep it out, giving UD an early 1-0 lead. The Spartans continued to pressure the Kohawks backline, and at 37:20, that pressure paid off. Just moments after entering the match,
Gavin Ehlers received the ball on the left side and made a run into the penalty area. Ehlers tapped the ball past a defender, leaving the defender with no option but to commit a foul.
Luka Tomic stepped up to take the penalty kick and calmly buried his attempt into the bottom-left corner to extend the lead to 2-0. Just three minutes before halftime, the Kohawks goalkeeper misplayed a ball into the Spartans midfield, creating a golden opportunity for UD. The initial shot appeared destined for an open net, but the goalkeeper made an unbelievable save. The rebound fell directly to
Brady Wagner, who headed the ball into the back of the net to give the Spartans a 3-0 advantage. It was Wagner's first goal of the season.
The Spartans expected the Kohawks to come out with energy in the second half, but it was UD that continued to bring the intensity. At 52:19,
Jameson Carl took the ball away from a Kohawk defender, dribbled into the penalty area, and finished with a clever shot through the goalkeeper's legs to make it 4-0. The goal marked Carl's fifth of the season. The Spartans controlled the remainder of the match, rotating players into the lineup and giving them valuable playing time and an opportunity to gain conference experience. Dubuque remained composed throughout the final minutes, controlling possession and preventing the Kohawks from creating any dangerous opportunities. The Spartans closed out the match with a commanding 4-0 victory, earning their first conference win of the season.
Leading the way for the Spartans in their first conference game were
Ryan Tapper,
Luka Tomic,
Brady Wagner, and
Jameson Carl, who each recorded a goal in the 4-0 victory.
Gavin Ehlers also made an impact, earning the penalty kick that led to Dubuque's second goal. In goal, senior
Riley Johnson continued his hot streak, making five saves to record another clean sheet for the Spartans.
Up Next
The Spartans will hit the road on Saturday, October 10, traveling to Storm Lake, Iowa, to take on the Buena Vista University Beavers in their second conference game of the season. The Spartans will look to build on their strong start and earn a second consecutive conference victory. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at J. Leslie Rollins Stadium.
