GALESBURG, ILL. — In an all too familiar storyline for the Central College men's soccer team, an overtime goal by Knox College (Ill.) sent the Dutch home with a 1-0 loss on Saturday.
Saturday's defeat was the third time this season that Central (2-5-0) was defeated by an overtime goal and the second time it happened in the second overtime.

"It took a bomb from 40 yards out by the center back into the upper corner to beat us," coach Garry Laidlaw said. "We felt that was about the only way they could break us down and that is what exactly what they did."

The result after 108 minutes was not ideal, but the effort shown was positive for Laidlaw.
           
"I actually thought this was our most complete performance of the year so far," he said. "After playing a good team yesterday and going into overtime today, we simply ran out of gas. Though not the result we want, the performance was pleasing."
           
The Prairie Fire (4-2-1) unleashed a barrage of 19 shot attempts, placing 12 on goal. Goalkeeper Salvador Salado-Herrera (sophomore, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Park Center) repelled 11 as saves.
           
"Sal made some great saves for us today."

A five-headed monster in the backline was key to deterring those shots as well. Starters Landon Daniels (junior, Webster City), Logan Serbousek (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Prairie HS), Taylor Petkovich (junior, Littleton, Colo., Heritage HS) and Brant Mueller (freshman, Bettendorf) as well as Ean Wilson (junior, Algonquin, Ill., Jacobs HS) off the bench played a major role according to Laidlaw.
           
"All of our backs were immense today," he said. "They had terrific games."

Central is now off for a few days before welcoming Westminster College (Mo.) on Tuesday, September 18. The Blue Jays are 1-3-0 and host Wartburg College on Sunday.
"I thought we took a good step forward with our shape and structure," Laidlaw said. "We continue to believe in this team and the potential moving forward. This will harden us that much more."