Wartburg College hosts Loras College of Dubuque in a key Iowa Conference doubleheader Friday, Oct. 8. Match times, at Wartburg Soccer Complex, are 5 p.m. for the women and 7 p.m. for the men.
For the fans – Interested individuals can follow the action via a live event blog at http://theorange.wartburg.edu/AthleticsNews/SportsLiveBlog/tabid/280/Default.aspx.
Knights notes – Both matches against the Duhawks have conference implications. The women’s winner puts itself in strong shape on the conference standings and in regards to the final four hosting duties for the men’s and women’s conference postseason tournament, while the men’s winner also strengthens itself atop the league. … There’s also regional and national focus. The women’s match pits two of the top seven ranked teams in the National Soccer Coaches Association’s North Region, as Loras, ranked eighth nationally, is second, and the Knights are seventh in the region and gained some national honors early in the year. The men’s match features a Knights’ squad that has been regionally and nationally ranked and a Duhawk team that is No. 9 in the region and earned national attention earlier. … Coach Sara Johnson’s women’s squad (7-3-1 overall, 3-0 IIAC), sporting a 3-0-1 record in its last four outings, opened the week with a 2-0 win over Coe College of Cedar Rapids Oct. 5. They broke up a scoreless contest when sophomore forward Kaylee Benning (Waverly) took a pass from junior midfielder Katy Wendt (Bettendorf)in the 15th minute for her third goal of the year. Wendt, finishing up a three-point evening, scored her 10th goal less than nine minutes later. Wendt and freshman midfielder Kelli Anderson (Cary, Ill.), combined for nine of the home side’s shot attempts. The Orange and Black’s keeper duo of sophomore Monica Noti (Carol Stream, Ill.), and junior Haley Hergert (Amana) pieced together the team’s third shutout of the year. … Wendt’s multiple-point night was her sixth of the season. … Due to that fact, she is in the top 60 of NCAA Division III in points (2.22) and goals (one) per match. ... Wartburg continues its stretch of three successive conference home doubleheaders when Central College of Pella comes to Waverly Wednesday, Oct. 13.
