WAVERLY, Iowa (November 9th, 2024) – Nebraska Wesleyan men's soccer made history with their first appearance in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Championship but fell 1-0 to Wartburg College in a hard-fought final match on Saturday, bringing a close to a memorable season for the Prairie Wolves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams opened the game with fierce determination, matching each other's intensity and creating early opportunities on both ends. Nebraska Wesleyan's Caden Tubaugh took the first shot on goal in the eighth minute, forcing Wartburg goalkeeper into an early save that set the tone for a defensive battle. The Prairie Wolves continued to test Wartburg's defense, with Alex Kohler and Brenden Zuerlein each pressing forward and adding shots throughout the first half. Nebraska Wesleyan's backline held firm against several of Wartburg's early advances, while goalkeeper Zachary Weis made two pivotal saves to keep the game scoreless through the halftime break.
Early in the second half, Wartburg managed to break through the NWU defense. In the 49th minute, Wartburg found an opening and scored the lone goal of the match with an unassisted strike, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead. Nebraska Wesleyan responded with resilience, pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Midfielder Samuel Schendt came close to leveling the score with a shot on goal in the 61st minute, but Eckert was there to make another stop for Wartburg. Kohler continued to press in the final minutes, sending two more shots toward goal, but Wartburg's defense held strong, sealing the 1-0 win as the clock wound down.
The Knights outshot the Prairie Wolves 19-12. Weis anchored the defense with five saves, keeping NWU within striking distance until the final whistle.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Alex Kohler (F): 4 shots, 1 shot on goal
Caden Tubaugh (F): 1 shot on goal
Samuel Schendt (MF): 2 shots, 1 shot on goal
Zachary Weis (GK): 1 goal allowed, 5 saves, 90 minutes played
Shots: Wartburg 19, NWU 12
Shots on Goal: Wartburg 6, NWU 4
Corners: Wartburg 7, NWU 2
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan's season comes to a close with an 12-8 record, capped by their historic journey to the A-R-C Championship game. This season's success sets a promising foundation as the Prairie Wolves continue to build on this year's achievements.
