PELLA — Desperate for a win to keep their season alive, the Central College men's soccer team was unable to overcome a two-goal deficit in a 2-1 loss against Loras College Tuesday.

A final record of 3-5-0 in conference games (10-6-0 overall) was not enough to earn a top-six finish needed to qualify for the postseason tournament. The Duhawks finish the regular season at 6-2-0 (12-5-0 overall).

All of Central's five conference loses came by one-goal margins, four of which were finished at 2-1. Three times the Dutch were downed by penalty kick goals in overtime or late in the second half.

"We battled right to the end," coach Garry Laidlaw said. "While we feel short of our main goal of making the tournament, I'm proud with how we played all season.

This is truly one of the better teams that we've had in my time here."

The Duhawks scored two first half goals but Central did not go down without a fight. Salvador Villanueva (senior, Morris, Ill.) received a through ball from fellow midfielder Daniel Alanis (junior, Phoenix, Ariz., Apollo HS) and buried it at 59:29 to bring the Dutch within a goal.

Keeping the offensive pressure up, Central outshot Loras for much of the second half but couldn't find a second goal.

"As we'e done all year, we tried to play good soccer," Laidlaw said. "They're a tough defensive team to break down. We gave it everything we had. That's all we can ask for at the end of the day."
           
Laidlaw and the Dutch say goodbye to eight total seniors in Villanueva, midfielders Trevor Ruiz (Hudson), Andrew McMillan (Dunlap, Ill.), Seth Signs (Grinnell), forwards Bryce Leonard (Williamsville, Ill.) and Josh Prokupek (Belleuve, Neb., East HS). Two more classmates, Calvin Bill (Hartsburg, Mo., Southern Boone County HS) and Zach Butters (West Des Moines, Valley HS) missed the entire season with injuries.                                                                                                                                  
           
"It's really hard to put into words how we feel about that group," Laidlaw said. "They're a group of guys who get it done in the classroom, on the field and in the community. We're going to miss them dearly and are extremely fortunate to have had the chance to work with them.
           
"One of the things that I'm going to remember about this group is that they came here when we had reached a bit of a low point a number of years back. To see the team we have become at the end of their time, I give them a lot of credit for that."
            Next season, Central will return 26 of 34 players, including 9 of the starting eleven.