Mueller scores nice goal, but #21 Loras defeats Men's Soccer 4-1 to advance to NCAA Final Four

By Steven Wright

| Box Score | Tournament Site |

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Freshman Abrim Mueller scored a fantastic goal from about 25 yards out to the upper right of the goal, but No. 21 Loras (Iowa) was too much for the Ohio Northern men's soccer team, defeating the Polar Bears 4-1 to advance to the NCAA Final Four Sunday night at the Rock Bowl.

ONU ends its season with a 20-6-1 record as the Duhawks will continue play with a 20-4-1 record.

Miguel Bonilla and Justin McCord scored two goals a piece in the second half to propel LC to victory.

Chet Gapczynski had a great opportunity just two minutes into the second half from about 10 yards away but was not able to get enough on the ball and Loras goalkeeper Nate DuBois made an easy save.

The Duhawks reponded right away after the ONU chance with the game's first goal on a header by Bonilla coming off a free kick by Santiago Mejia.

Bonilla got his second goal of the game at 58:03 off a centering pass from the right side by McCord and had only Collins to beat from the middle of the box.

Mueller scored his second goal of the year just over two minutes at 60:12 later to get the Polar Bears on the board on an assist from Gapczynski.

McCord then scored two almost identical goals in the 82nd and 88th minutes to secure the win for Loras. On both goals, he got behind the ONU defense, beat Collins and knocked the ball in from the left side into an empty net.

The Polar Bears and the Duhawks played to a scoreless tie in the first half with both teams having a couple decent chances to score, as Loras outshot ONU 7-4.

Loras had a great chance from about 12 yards out right in front of the goal in the third minute, but Collins made a fantastic save, punching the hard driven ball away and denying the Duhawks.

Northern's first decent chance came in the 25th minute when Bascom sent a centering pass to Huelsman from the left side, but DuBois was able to smother the ball before Huelsman had an opportunity to take a shot.

About eight minutes later, Northern ended up with five consecutive corner kicks but was unable to capitalize.

At 31:50, an ONU foul gave Loras a free kick from about 30-yards out. A diving header by a Duhawk attacker sailed just left and kept the score 0-0.

This was the farthest ONU has ever made it in the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament, having never passed the second round before this season.