November 4, 2006

INDIANOLA, IOWA . . . Wartburg College men and Loras College women received the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) automatic bids to the NCAA soccer Tournaments with a double-overtime victory and penalty kick advancement in its respective Championship matches at Simpson College on Saturday.

In the fourth consecutive men’s final between Wartburg and Loras, the Knights came away with the double-overtime win on Harrison Kibombo-Lugujjo’s goal off a direct free kick in the 106th minute to secure Wartburg’s fourth consecutive trip to the National Tournament. Wartburg took a 1-0 lead on Luke McClyman’s goal in the 17th minute. The matched stayed that way until the 86th minute when, playing a man down, Loras’ Nick Anello took a Santiago Mejia pass of a free kick to tie the game. Wartburg’s Matt Shepard and Loras’ Kevin Smerko each made seven saves including a number of key stops in the second half and overtimes. Wartburg improved to 17-2-1 on the year with its third IIAC Tournament title in four years. Loras fell to 13-4-2. Box score

Loras and Central both maintain hopes of receiving a Pool C bid to the 57-team NCAA men’s field. The national field will be announced on Sunday, November 5 and the bracket will be released on Monday.

In the women’s Championship match, Simpson and Loras played to a 0-0 draw through two overtimes with Loras advancing on penalty kicks (3-1). It was the second time the IIAC Tournament was decided in penalty kicks, with Loras winning both times including a 6-5 PK decision in 2003. Loras failed to convert on its first penalty kick attempt but converted on the next three including the decisive goal by Jenna Kosek. Loras’ Torey Murray made four saves for her eighth shutout of the season and Simpson’s Whitney Franker made five saves for her seventh shutout of the season. Loras improves to 10-7-2 and awaits word on its NCAA Tournament match-up for the sixth consecutive year. Simpson finishes at 11-5-3. Box score

The 60-team NCAA women’s field will be announced on Sunday and the bracket will be released on Monday.