DUBUQUE, Iowa – Dubuque scored twice in the first half and held off a late push from Nebraska Wesleyan men's soccer to earn a 2-1 American Rivers Conference victory on Saturday afternoon.
Senior Brenden Zuerlein scored late in the first half for the Prairie Wolves, but Nebraska Wesleyan was unable to find an equalizer over the final 45 minutes.
Dubuque took the lead on its first shot of the match, as Luka Tomic scored at 4:49 off an assist from Elias Johannson. The Spartans recorded the first five shots of the contest.
Nebraska Wesleyan's first notable scoring opportunity came in the 18th minute, when freshman midfielder Elijah Soliz fired a right-footed shot that was saved.
Dubuque doubled its lead at 30:42. Andre Elinoff set up Jonatan Banuelos, who redirected the ball past Nebraska Wesleyan goalkeeper Christian Lindseth to make it 2-0.
The Prairie Wolves cut the deficit in half in the 41st minute. Jayden Fullerton sent a free kick toward Zuerlein on the left side, and the Papillion, Nebraska, native redirected the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
Dubuque held an 11-6 advantage in first-half shots, including four on goal.
Nebraska Wesleyan threatened early in the second half when forward Caden Carpenter put a shot on target, but the Dubuque goalkeeper made the save.
Zuerlein nearly equalized in the 90th minute, collecting a ball off a late throw-in and firing a shot toward goal. Dubuque goalkeeper Riley Johnson got a hand to the attempt to preserve the Spartans' lead.
Nebraska Wesleyan returns to Abel Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 21, to host American Rivers Conference rival Coe. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
