Ben Heithoff Nov. 7, 2008

Central ousted in league semifinals

WAVERLY—Trying to knock off Wartburg College at Waverly for the second time in less than two weeks, the Central College men’s soccer team was instead sidelined from the Iowa Conference tourney by the Knights Friday, 2-0. Wartburg, which won a play-in game with Luther College Tuesday, 3-2, advances to Saturday’s league tournament final against top-seeded Loras College, a 6-0 winner over the Univ. of Dubuque Friday.    

Central had toppled Wartburg 2-1 Oct. 25 in the conference season finale. But Friday, with temperatures in the 30s and fierce northwest winds, the teams were scoreless in the opening half.  Wartburg used the wind to its advantage for the go-ahead score in the 57th minute. Knights goalkeeper Trent Michael launched a booming punt that traveled nearly the length of the field. As Wartburg forward Ed Axcer Way chased it down, it deflected off his neck and into the corner of the net.

“In conditions like these with two even teams, it always seems to be a crazy goal that separates them and that was the case today,” coach Garry Laidlaw said.

Centralwas pushing forward for the equalizer in the final minutes and yielded a game-clinching goal by Axcer Way in the final minute.

Central was without regular goaltender Greg Foote (senior, Maple Grove, Minn.). Quincy Garner (sophomore, Pella) made four saves in 60 minutes of action while Jonathan Glassman (freshman, Lakeville, Minn., North HS) made two saves. Wartburg’s Michael made five saves in pitching the shutout. Central was outshot 18-9, including 9-2 in the second half.

“I thought Wartburg defensively was very strong,” Laidlaw said. “We just couldn’t find a way through. They kept it tight in back.”

The Dutch close at 12-7 after enduring a challenging schedule, with a 7-1 mark in Iowa Conference games. It’s the seventh straight 10-win season for Laidlaw, who has guided the Dutch to a 93-34-9 (.716) mark in that span.

“We always knew it would be a tough schedule,” Laidlaw said. “There were two or three games that we thought we were good enough in to get a different result but overall, we have no complaints. We were 7-1 in the league and I thought had a successful season.”

Central graduates six seniors, including Foote, midfielders Cruz Herr (Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) and Chris Purdue (La Cresent, Minn.), and defenders Ben Heithoff (Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln HS), Jamie Johnson (Marion, Linn-Mar HS) and Scott Erie (Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS). They helped the Dutch post a 54-19-7 (.718) four-year record.

“Those six guys helped create a lot of exciting memories,” Laidlaw said.