LINCOLN, Neb. -- Dakota Wesleyan scored a goal in the 82nd minute to break open a 2-2 tie and that would be the game-winner as the Tigers defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 3-2 in GPAC men's soccer on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 31) at Abel Stadium.

The final goal spoiled the Senior Day celebration for the Prairie Wolves men's soccer team on their final regular season match.  NWU finishes the regular season at 9-7-1 overall and 3-6-1 in GPAC play and now must wait to see if they get into the postseason tournament.  The final tournament pairings will be released late Saturday night.

DWU struck very early as Peter Wartenberg scored just 1:35 into the match to put the Tigers up 1-0.  Only seven minutes later the Tigers added another goal as Derek Brenner scored in the eighth minute to give Dakota Wesleyan a 2-0 advantage.

That score of 2-0 would last the majority of the first half, until the Prairie Wolves got onto the board just before intermission.  Brady Blazek found the back of the net of an assist from Wesley Smith to cut the lead in half.

NWU used that momentum to start the second half and would eventually tie the score at 2-2 in the 59th minute.  Blazek went on a breakaway and took a shot on goal that was blocked by the goalkeeper, but Jake Kennedy controlled the ball off the rebound and kicked it directly into the net to tie the score.

The intense match continued back and forth until Liam LaFrance fired a shot from 25 yards that got over the NWU goalkeeper's head and would be the game-winner.

NWU finished with 14 total shots, compared to nine for the Tigers but the Wolves didn't convert their chances.