Scott Erie Sept. 28, 2008

St. John's outduels Dutch in Minnesota

COLLEGEVILLE, MINN.—A late first-half goal was the difference as the Central College men’s soccer team was edged by St. John’s University (Minn.) Sunday 1-0.

Colin Hall headed in a goal off a corner kick with 1:06 left in the opening half as the Johnnies improved to 6-4. Central is also 6-4.

“Unfortunately, they just outjumped us on a header,” coach Garry Laidlaw said. “It was not the way we wanted to end a half.”

St. John’s also held a slight 15-14 shot advantage. Central led in corner kicks, 9-4, and Dutch goalkeeper Greg Foote (senior, Maple Grove, Minn.) made four saves.

“It was a good battle between two good teams,” Laidlaw said. “As often happens with two evenly matched teams, whoever scores the first goal has a big advantage.

“In the second half we poured everything we could onto them. We thought they might be a little tired because they played yesterday and we tried to take advantage of that. But we couldn’t find that key pass or get clearance for a good shot.”

Central takes its 1-0 Iowa Conference record to Decorah Saturday for a league match with Luther College. It’s a women’s-men’s doubleheader with the men kicking off at 3 p.m. Luther started the week at 3-3-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Central blanked the Norse last year 5-0 and has won the teams’ last three meetings but Luther holds a 10-4-1 advantage in the series.

“As I told the guys after the game, we’re 6-4 and played the toughest schedule we’ve ever played,” Laidlaw said. “We’ve got goals and aspirations in the conference and so we’ll get back on the pitch on Monday and try to go after them.”