DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque men's soccer team faced the No. 5-seeded Simpson College Storm in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Semifinals, entering the matchup as the No. 1 seed after a fantastic regular season. In front of an outstanding home crowd at Oyen Field, the Spartans battled through 110 minutes of scoreless action before falling 6-5 in the penalty shootout. After such a remarkable season, UD's championship hopes came to a heartbreaking end in the semifinals.
From the opening whistle, the tension was evident in every duel, sprint, and pass. Both teams understood what was at stake, and that intensity carried onto the field. Much of the first half was played in the midfield, with both sides working to neutralize each other's attacking opportunities. The best chance of the opening half came from the Spartans when
Jake Polacek found himself one-on-one with the Storm goalkeeper. Polacek chipped the ball over the keeper, but the attempt lacked enough pace, allowing a Simpson defender to clear it off the goal line. Outside of that opportunity, both teams managed a few shots but struggled to create any clear-cut chances. The teams went into halftime tied 0-0, a scoreline that reflected an evenly contested first half.
The second half brought more of the same, with both teams continuing to match each other across the field. The Spartans created several promising opportunities early in the half, but their attempts were either blocked by Simpson defenders or narrowly missed the target. The biggest opportunity of the match came in the 69th minute when
Ryan Tapper was brought down inside the Storm penalty area, earning UD a penalty kick.
Jameson Carl stepped up to the spot, looking to add to his conference-leading goal total and give the Spartans the lead. Carl struck a powerful shot toward the bottom-left corner, but the Simpson goalkeeper guessed correctly and made an outstanding save to keep the game scoreless. Following the missed opportunity, Simpson gained confidence and began putting pressure on the Spartans in their own half. The Storm created several chances to find a late winner, but
Riley Johnson stood tall in goal. Johnson made five saves in the final 12 minutes of regulation, keeping UD in the game and sending the matchup into overtime. After 90 minutes, neither team had found the breakthrough, and the score remained 0-0.
Overtime featured two 10-minute periods, with both teams knowing that one mistake could end their season. The intensity remained high, but neither side managed to create the decisive opportunity. With the score still level after 110 minutes, the semifinal was decided by a penalty shootout. Both teams sent their top penalty takers to the spot, and the goalkeepers became the center of attention. Simpson ultimately came out on top, with the Storm goalkeeper saving two of UD's attempts. Johnson kept the Spartans' hopes alive by making a penalty save of his own, but it was not enough. Simpson claimed the shootout 6-5, bringing the Spartans remarkable 2026 season to a heartbreaking end.
Leading the Spartans
Leading the way offensively in their final game of the season were
Ryan Tapper with four shots, while
Jake Polacek and
Andre Elinoff each recorded three shots.
In goal, fifth-year senior
Riley Johnson delivered an outstanding performance in his final collegiate appearance. Johnson finished with nine saves, including a crucial penalty save during the shootout, giving the Spartans every opportunity to advance.
Thank You, Seniors
The semifinal also marked the final collegiate game for five Spartan seniors:
Riley Johnson,
Joshua Kieldyk,
Eddie Papis,
Elia Desario, and
Aidan Kongtahworn. Each has contributed dedication, commitment, and leadership to the UD men's soccer program, serving as examples both on and off the field. Their contributions to the program will not be forgotten, and they leave behind a legacy that extends beyond the results on the field.
