Simpson streak ends at Dubuque

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Simpson College men's soccer team saw its three-game win streak and late comeback bid snapped at Dubuque on Wednesday.

The Storm (7-8, 4-2 A-R-C) came into the game at the top of the American Rivers Conference, but with the loss, there are now five teams at the top all between 10-13 points. The Spartans (5-8-2, 3-2-1 A-R-C) earned the win to bring themselves back into the mix at the top. The Storm still have two more games to play and remain in play for a conference title.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Dubuque struck first in the 18th minute. Some slick combination play allowed the Spartans to get into the Storm box, where Jakub Youngstrom finished low into the net.
• The Spartans doubled their lead 10 minutes later, winning the ball in midfield after a Storm goal kick. Gavin Wooldridge sent a cross into the box that found Albin Lauridsen at the back post to give Dubuque a 2-0 lead.
• The Storm pulled one back five minutes before halftime. A long free kick by Sam Hying was sent into the box, but a Dubuque defender inadvertently headed the ball into his own net.
• Dubuque restored its two-goal lead in the 58th minute on a free kick from a tight angle on the left corner of the box. A direct shot to the right side of the goal bent in and caught the Storm off-guard to give Dubuque a 3-1 lead.
• The Storm mounted a late comeback, once again through Hying. A perfect free kick from Zach Kline found Hying's head, who was unmarked and powered in a header past the hopeless Dubuque keeper.
• Simpson paraded forward, with a dangerous ball sent into the box that two Simpson attackers went for, but was just out of reach and allowed the Dubuque keeper to claim to preserve the win.

NOTABLE

• Simpson still leads the all-time series by a tally of 16-10-1, but have split the last four meetings.
• The Storm have scored multiple goals against Dubuque in the past five meetings.
• Sam Hying scored his second career goal in as many games and took the free kick that led to the own goal by Dubuque.
• With Simpson's loss and Loras's win over Luther tonight, both Simpson and Loras are currently tied for the de facto lead atop the conference. Luther has one more point than both, but Simpson and Loras have played one less game.

UP NEXT
The Storm welcome in Wartburg, who are one point behind Simpson, for Senior Day on Saturday, with the game scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff.