Loras squeezes past Central men’s soccer team

PELLA — Even after striking for the first goal, the Central College men’s soccer team was defeated 2-1 Saturday afternoon against Loras College.

Central (2-8-0, 1-3-0 American Rivers Conference lit up the scoreboard first with a Jake Dzarnowski (senior, Wheaton, Ill., North HS) tally in the 8th minute. He got an assist from Brant Mueller (senior, defender, Bettendorf) to score his first goal of the year.

“We’ve been challenging all of our forwards and midfielders to give us a little more going forward this year,” coach Garry Laidlaw said. “Jake accepted the challenge well today and was rewarded for gambling on a flick on in the box off a header.”

Loras (7-5-1, 2-2-0 conference) had goals in the 24th and 25th minute to take the lead and ultimately the victory.

Laidlaw was excited by what his team showed on the pitch.

“I liked everything about the game today except the final score,” he said. “I thought we played as close to a complete 90-minute game as we have all year. Despite the result, I continue to be encouraged by the progress we have made.

“Things are starting to fall into place in terms of positions and roles. If we can just keep a consistent lineup down the homestretch, I think we can beat any of the teams in this league on a given day.”

Central was outshot 17-10 but seven of the 10 Dutch attempts went on frame. Goalkeeper John Foster (sophomore, Lee’s Summit, Mo., North HS) made six saves on Loras shots.

The Dutch travel to Nebraska Wesleyan University on Tuesday for an 8 p.m. match.