CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – For the first time since 2014, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Men’s Soccer Tournament Championship will feature the Loras College Duhawks and the Wartburg College Knights. The match will be played at the Rock Bowl in Dubuque, Iowa, hosted by Loras College. The Knights are ranked No. 4 and the Duhawks No. 7 in the most recent NCAA Division III Region IX Rankings. The winner of the championship match will receive the A-R-C’s automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament.
 
The No. 2-seed Wartburg College Knights (11-1-6 overall, 5-1-2 A-R-C) defeated No. 3-seed University of Dubuque (8-9-2 overall, 5-2-1 A-R-C) by a score of 1-0 after a hard-fought battle on the pitch this evening. Wartburg scored their lone goal in the 73^rd minute of the game when Aidan Mott found the back of the net off a pass from Itsuki Ebisawa. Leading the defense was the Knights goalkeeper, Brennon Woody, who recorded four saves. The biggest save of the game came on a penalty kick on the second half.
 
The No. 1-seed Loras College Duhawks (12-3-4 overall, 6-2-0 A-R-C) advanced to the conference tournament championship match after a 3-0 win over No. 4-seed Luther College Norse (6-8-6 overall, 4-3-1 A-R-C). The Duhawks started off the match strong this evening, scoring all three of their goals in the first 28 minutes of the match. The first goal of the night came from Ethan Kelly in the 3^rd minute of the game, recording the assist on that goal was Reed Miklavcic. Loras didn’t slow down as Cole Bridson found the goal in the 10^th minute on a pass from Dani Galiana Torres. The Duhawks scoring was rounded out by Michael Koutsopanagos in the 28^th minute as he found the back of the net unassisted. In goal for the Duhawks was Ben Krogman who recorded seven saves including one off a Norse penalty kick.
 
The 2023 conference tournament championship match is the 11^th time in the history of the tournament these two teams have met in the tournament championship. Wartburg holds the upper hand when it comes to the record, as they have won six of those titles and Loras has won four. Loras is led by first year head coach Sam Koenig and are looking to head to their 14^th NCAA tournament. The Wartburg Knights are led by head coach Mike Madigan and seek to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014.
 
Can the Duhawks pick up their second conference tournament title in three years, or will the Knights secure their first tournament title since 2014? Find out Saturday from the Rock Bowl in Dubuque, Iowa on the campus of Loras College with kickoff to be determined later this week. Stay tuned to our X/Twitter page for an update on start time.