Dutch dealt tough defeat in men’s soccer

LINCOLN, NEB. — Needing a positive result to secure a spot in the American Rivers Conference postseason tournament, the Central College men’s soccer team was defeated 1-0 at Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday.

Central falls to 7-7-2 overall and 3-4-0 in the American Rivers Conference. Nebraska Wesleyan improved to 9-3-4 overall and 3-3-2 in league matches. The victory puts Nebraska Wesleyan in sixth place and two points above Central in the table.

“Soccer matches are often separated by fine margins,” coach Garry Laidlaw said. “I didn’t think there was much between the teams today,”

Both teams put five shots on goal but only the Prairie Wolves were able to find a goal, notching one in the 30th minute. Carter Newhouse (freshman, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) and Coleman Manuel (junior, Erie, Colo.). each had two shots on goal for Central.

“They got behind us one time in the first half with a nice finish,” Laidlaw said. “We then had to change the way we played in the second half in an attempt to chase the goal we needed. I thought we pressed the issue but unfortunately, we couldn’t find the breakthrough we needed.”

Goalkeeper Ronan Murphy (junior, Des Moines, Roosevelt HS) got the start due to a John Foster (senior, Lee’s Summit, Mo., North HS) injury, making four saves.

“He filled in well as we expected,” Laidlaw said.

The Dutch wrap up the regular season at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in a home match at A.N. Kuyper Athletics Soccer Complex against Loras College. The Dutch will need to win that game to finish sixth and reach the postseason tournament.

“We have more crack at it on Tuesday,” Laidlaw said. “We’ll do everything we can to get the points needed to get into the tournament.”