DECORAH, Iowa – Top-seeded Luther College scored a pair of second half goals and held the 4^th-seeded Prairie Wolves scoreless as the Norse defeated Nebraska Wesleyan, 2-0, in the Iowa Conference men's soccer semifinals that were played in cold and rainy conditions in Decorah, Iowa on Wednesday night (Nov. 1).
 
The Prairie Wolves end their successful 2017 season with a 11-7-1 overall record, the highest win total by a NWU men's soccer team since the 2008 season.  Luther advances to the IIAC Tournament championship match on Saturday where they will host the winner of Loras College vs. Simpson College.
 
Both teams played to a 0-0 tie in the first 45 minutes.  Luther College had several opportunities with six shots on goal, but NWU goalkeeper Jack Nespor saved all six shots.
 
In the second half, the Norse got the scoring started in the 58^th minute as Brunno Colon scored on a cross from Ben Keller.  The goal at the 58:27 mark broke open the scoreless match and gave Luther the second half advantage.
 
NWU began pressing the action in the final ten minutes and had a few late chances off of corner kicks.  Luther goalkeeper Carson Davenport recorded saves on both shots on goal.
 
The Norse added a late goal in the 87^th minute as Rafael Broseghini broke free and went the length of the field and kicked the ball to the back of the net.  That would be the dagger for the Prairie Wolves as they saw their season come to an end.
 
Luther had 20 total shots with 10 shots on goal, compared to seven shots for the Prairie Wolves.  It was the second match this season that the Norse shut out NWU as they won the regular season meeting 4-0.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan has nothing to hang their heads about as they finished fourth in the IIAC standings in year two of joining the conference and earned their first postseason conference tournament victory since 1997 with a win in the opening round.