PELLA — Forward Miguel Pina (sophomore, Chicago, Ill., William H. Taft HS) scored two goals, but his effort was not enough as the Central College men's soccer team fell to the University of Dubuque  3-2 Saturday.

Central (9-5 overall, 3-2 Iowa Conference) fell behind after a 12th-minute goal from the Spartans. However, Pina corralled a ball just outside the box and bent it past the keeper for the equalizer late in the first half.

The game went to halftime in a 1-1 tie.

Tied at halftime, Central fell behind 3-1 after two gift second-half goals for Dubuque (12-2 overall, 5-1 conference), according to coach Garry Laidlaw.

"We've defended poorly in three separate games this year. including this one," he said. "We talk about giving a team gifts and today we gave a good team gifts, and good teams will make you pay."

Pina tried to get the Dutch back into the game with his 10th goal of the season off an assist from defender Zach Butters (junior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) at the 86:06 mark.

"Miguel is a special player," said Laidlaw. "We feel like anytime he's on the field, he can make things happen for us."

However, Central failed to register a shot on goal the rest of the way. The Dutch travel to Storm Lake Wednesday for a 6 p.m. league game at Buena Vista University.

"BV is a much improved side this year, they have played most of the teams in our league really tough this year," said Laidlaw. "We know that that's not going to be an easy game. Our job is to get ready and improve on what we didn't feel was our best performance today."