DECORAH — Finding the back of the net twice in the second half, the Central College men's soccer team took a 2-0 win at Luther College Tuesday night.
The Dutch (6-5-2, 2-2-0 American Rivers Conference) handed the Norse (5-4-4, 3-1-1 conference) their first league loss. Luther is in first place in the league standing with 10 points. Central is in a three-way tie for fifth with six points.
"It's obviously a huge result for us," coach
Garry Laidlaw said. "Luther is a great team and we knew were going to need to get the details right tonight. All in all, it was a great team win and an important three points to keep us in the conference tournament chase."
Nolan Piedimonte (freshman, Lee's Summit, Mo., North HS) scored for the fifth time to break the scoreless in the 61st minute.
Joe Brown (junior, Norwalk) was credited with an assist for his efforts in setting up the strike.
"Joe showed tremendous composure on the build up to Nolan's goal," Laidlaw said.
Carter Newhouse (freshman, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) widened the gap in the 76th minute to 2-0. A free kick from near midfield was sent in by
Spencer Taylor (junior, Norwalk) before a Luther defender tried to clear the ball.
Trysten Vasquez (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Xavier HS) headed it across the goal to a waiting Newhouse who put a strong left foot on it and out of the keeper's reach.
"Carter did it at both ends of the pitch tonight," Laidlaw said. "It was a great header by Trysten."
Starting goalkeeper
John Foster (senior, Lee's Summit, Mo., North HS) made five saves to earn a shutout. Starting defenders Vasquez, Taylor,
Alejo Marcon (sophomore, Resistencia, Argentina, Pella Christian HS) and
Lucas Bartachek (junior, Waukee) played the full 90 minutes in shutting out the Norse for the first time since 2012.
"They were able to hold it together in the most important moments," Laidlaw said.
The Dutch host Wartburg College Saturday
