A heartbreaker

The 2009 Luther College Women's Soccer team's season has come to an end. After a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to Simpson College in the IIAC semifinals, Luther is headed home to regroup and start planning for next season.

Some highlights:

Luther was only scored on four times in IIAC play

Hannah Wright, Luther junior, is credited with 10 shutouts on the season, along with Luther's defense-led by seniors Kendra Dornfeld, Jill Nerka, Ashley Meirick and sophomore Sami Sojka. These 10 shutouts place Hannah third in Luther's record books for single-season shutouts.

The Norse did not allow a goal in eight of their last nine games.

Hannah was also named defensive player of the week twice!

The Meirick sisters, Ashley and Dani (sophomore) were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII Women's Soccer Team. Check out the link: http://sports.luther.edu/women/soccer/season/2009/news/academicalldistrict.htm

Dani led the Norse in scoring with 13 goals and 3 assists for 29 points
Anna Grinde (junior) was next with 5 goals and 3 assists for 13 points
Kelsey Balk (junior) was third with 5 goals and 2 assists for 12 points
Kendra Ledel (sophomore) with 4 goals and 4 assists for 12 points

There are SO MANY other highlights from the season-and so many wonderful memories and photos to share... more to come.

As always... GO NORSE!

Conference tournament here we come!

We're getting ready to head down to Dubuque for the IIAC Tournament...


here's the schedule of events:

Friday (today) at 11 a.m. no. 2 Dubuque plays no. 3 Loras
Friday at 1:30 p.m. no. 1 LUTHER plays no. 5 Simpson

Saturday at 4 p.m. the winners of today's matches will play for the tournament championship, and the direct bid to nationals.

Check here for live stats and the webcast of today's games: http://www.iowaconference.com/women/soccer/tournament/2009.htm

In previous play,
Dubuque defeated Loras on Oct. 21, 2-1 in two overtimes
and
Luther defeated Simpson on Oct. 10, 1-0 in OT

(also...
Dubuque defeated Luther, 2-1, on Sept. 26,
Loras and Luther tied 0-0 on Oct. 7 after two overtimes
Simpson defeated Dubuque, 1-0, on Oct. 24 with a penalty kick,
Loras defeated Simpson, 1-0 in OT on Oct. 31)

EVERY MATCH this season between these four teams has been decided by one goal (or less:) ) With four of the six matches going to overtime!

Any way you slice it, this is going to be one heck of a tournament to watch.

The teams will play at the "Rock Bowl" at Loras College as it is the men's conference champs that determined the tournament location this year. This gives the Loras women the obvious home field advantage-forcing the other three teams to play their turf.

Keep a good thought for the Norse as we head into the most intense IIAC tournament we've seen in years! GO NORSE!

Happy Halloween!