INDIANOLA — The Central College men's soccer team could not find an equalizing goal in the second half of a 2-1 defeat at Simpson College Wednesday night.
           
The Storm (4-4-1, 2-0-0 American Rivers Conference) scored five minutes into the contest and then added a second in the 27th to give themselves an early lead over the Dutch (2-7-0, 0-2-0 conference).
           
"I think the first half was a microcosm of our season in many ways, both in the way we played and in the fact that we had to reshuffle the deck with another player going down," coach Garry Laidlaw said. "
           
Central came out strong in the second half when Cole Manuel (freshman, midfielder, Erie, Colo.) found the back of the net within two minutes of the kick off to pull within 2-1. Gabe Wilson (sophomore, midfielder, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) was credited with the assist.                             
           
"It was good on both of them," Laidlaw said. "We played Gabe in a slightly more advanced role in the second half and I thought it gave us better energy and play."
           
Central started without defensive midfielder Nathan Kuhlman (sophomore, Lee's Summit, Mo., North HS) and then lost his replacement Brandon Banyas (junior, Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS) during the match. Those missing players necessitated Central moving its leading scorer Brant Mueller (senoior, Bettendorf) back to the defensive end of the field where he played his first three seasons.
           
"We had to reshuffle the deck in the back and it forced us to move Brant back," Laidlaw said. "I thought Brant and Joe Brown (freshman, defender, Norwalk) were excellent in the second half."
           
Central returns home to face Loras College at 1 p.m. Saturday.