Storm aim to shake Loras stronghold in IIAC Tournament
INDIANOLA, Iowa - The No. 4-seeded Simpson men's soccer team travels to play No. 1-seeded Loras in the Iowa Conference Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday night in Dubuque. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at the Rock Bowl.
The Storm (9-8-3) advanced to the semifinal round after edging Wartburg 6-5 in a penalty-kick shootout in the first round of the conference tournament Saturday night. The regular season champion and 19th-ranked Duhawks (12-4-1) enjoyed a bye in the first round.
Loras won the regular season meeting 3-0 in the IIAC opener on Sept. 26.
LIVE COVERAGE
Video: www.duhawks.com
Stats: www.duhawks.com
2015 IIAC TOURNAMENT
Saturday, Oct. 31
#3 Luther 4, #6 Coe 0
#4 Simpson 1, #5 Wartburg 1 (Simpson advances on PKs, 6-5)
Wednesday, Nov. 4
#3 Luther @ #2 Dubuque, 7 p.m.
#4 Simpson @ #1 Loras, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 7
Semifinal winners at highest remaining seed
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Wednesday marks the 31st meeting in the series with Loras holding a 23-6-1 advantage. The Duhawks have won the last 18 meetings, with Simpson's last win coming in 2002. Loras is 7-2-1 against Simpson in the IIAC Tournament and has knocked the Storm out four straight times when the teams have met in the semifinals.
SCOUTING THE DUHAWKS
Loras won its fifth-consecutive Iowa Conference title in 2015, running the table in league play with a perfect 15-0 record. The Duhawks lead the conference in goals, assists and goals against average. Their deep lineup features six players with at least 10 points on the season.
"Loras is obviously a very formidable opponent, but we know what we're up against," head coach Rick Isaacson said. "We've run into them several times in postseason play, so we're very familiar with the opponent.
"We're not going to over game plan or over scout Loras. We just need to play good soccer and do our part and hopefully make a game of it."
Loras' size caused the Storm problems in the regular season meeting, as all three goals scored came off headers. Since then Simpson has made some changes defensively, both in formation and personnel.
Jorge Simon leads the Duhawks in points (19) and goals (8) to go along with three assists. Goalkeeper Jacob Peterson is 11-4-1 with six shutouts and a 0.86 goals against average.
STORM FEATURE WELL-ROUNDED ATTACK
Unlike in recent seasons when school-record holder Mitchell White scored a majority of the team's goals, the 2015 team features a well-balanced attack. Five players have at least 12 points and three - Marcus Varnum, Garrett Pochop and Cody Jacobson - have seven goals.
"We're just a more well-balanced team, a more diverse team," Isaacson said. "Rather than relying on one player to do most of our goal scoring, that's spread out among several players on our team, which in return makes us tougher to scout and tougher to game plan for. [Opposing teams] can't hone in on any one player."
HEATING UP AT THE RIGHT TIME
As the temperatures drop, the Storm are heating up. Simpson closed the regular season by winning four in a row, outscoring opponents 14-1 to finish tied for third in the IIAC standings. Simpson earned a 1-1 draw with Wartburg in the first round of the IIAC Tournament and advanced on PKs, 6-5.
Reining IIAC Players of the Week, Varnum (offense) and Austin Schafer (defense) have been a big reason for the late season push. Varnum has at least one goal or one assist in four of the last five games, including the game-tying goal against Wartburg with 15 seconds left in regulation. A junior goalkeeper, Schafer is 4-1-2 with a 0.74 goals against average since taking over the starting duties on Oct. 10. His lone loss was a 2-1 decision against 11th-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The dramatic PK shootout win against Wartburg may have generated even more momentum on Simpson's behalf going into Wednesday night's game.
"I think, if you're being honest, there is something to be said from winning a tight game and winning in the fashion that we did and that generating a little extra momentum," Isaacson said. "Our team doesn't lack confidence right now, which is what I think makes us a dangerous team in the post season. We're winning games, we feel good about the way we're playing and we don't fear anyone."
