Dutch men net another conference soccer victory
CEDAR RAPIDS — The depth of the Central College men’s soccer team was key to a 1-0 victory at Coe College Saturday night as three players came off the bench to work together for the game’s only goal.
The Dutch (13-2-1, 5-1-1 American Rivers Conference) fired off 18 total shots in the affair against the determined Kohawks (7-10-0, 2-5-0 conference).
“Coe looked like a team that was desperate for a win to stay in the hunt for a conference tournament bid,” coach Garry Laidlaw said. “And they played like it.”
Forward Ian Meentemeyer (senior, Hartsburg, Mo., Southern Boone County HS) and midfielders Tony Cervelli (sophomore, Plainfield, Ill., South HS) and Tristin Gilles (sophomore, Hudson) were substituted in together at the 61:59 mark. Just under 13 minutes later, Cervelli and Gilles were each credited with an assist as Meentemeyer punched home the game-winning tally.
“Those three were absolutely brilliant,” Laidlaw said. “We had been putting a lot of pressure on Coe, but those three came in and doubled down on it.
“I couldn’t be happier for Ian, a senior, to score one of the biggest goals he could have imagined.”
Goalkeeper Andrew Mathys (senior, Elburn, Ill., Kaneland HS) preserved his sixth shutout of the season, his third in conference play, with three saves. He faced 10 total shots.
In front of Mathys, defenders Brant Mueller (sophomore, Bettendorf), Landon Daniels (senior, Webster City), Taylor Petkovich (senior, Littleton, Colo., Heritage HS) and Joel Collett (junior, Walford, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) played the full 90 minutes.
“Andrew came up with two fantastic saves when they were hitting us on the counter attack,” Laidlaw said. “Those four have gelled well together. To keep the clean sheet was critical, especially until we got the goal we needed to win it.”
The Dutch will close out the regular season on Tuesday at noon against Buena Vista University from A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex’s soccer field. With a victory, Central would finish with the program’s first conference title in its 27-year history.
“We certainly have something to play for haven’t we?” Laidlaw said. “I imagine our players, knowing what’s at stake, will come out and play as hard as they can. We are looking forward to the opportunity. We don’t get opportunities like this every day and we want to make the most of it.”
