Dubuque, Iowa -- The Loras women's soccer team completed the double tonight, coming from behind to defeat Wartburg 3-2 in the American Rivers Conference tournament final. Loras also won the regular-season championship. The win also clinched the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship. The Duhawks won the tournament championship for the second-straight year and for the 13th time in the program's history.

Loras took a 1-0 lead late in the first half on a corner kick. The delivery from Jenny Wick was headed in by Emily Perhats in the 39th minute. It didn't take long for Wartburg to answer when a scramble situation in front of the Loras net was converted in the 43rd minute by the Knights' Annie Place. The teams were level at one after 45 minutes.

Wartburg took a 2-1 lead at 58:38 of the match when Joy Smith found some room down the left-hand side. Entering the penalty area she found a wide-open Anna Rood who left no doubt with a strike from point-blank range.

The Duhawks evened the match at 72:45 on Elizabeth Mills's shot from the penalty area. Her one-timer came after Wick's shot was deflected. Five minutes later, the game-winner came off a defensive-half long ball from Wick. Ryleigh O'Brien ran it down and poked it past the Wartburg keeper. Loras held on the rest of the way.

The Duhawks (16-3 overall, 7-1 A-R-C) will find out their NCAA opponent this Monday. Loras was ranked fourth in the North Region rankings this past week. Wartburg (13-5-1, 6-1-1), ranked third in the region this week, figures to get major consideration for an at-large berth when the field is announced. 
 

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