Luther's 2010 season ended in disappointing fashion, but their effort on the pitch all year has been far from disappointing.
The Norse made a difficult trip to Platteville where Luther ended their regular season with a 2-0 loss, though the Norse out-shot the Pioneers 16-6. The inability to score and crucial lapses on the defensive end that have plagued Luther all season long were once again the culprit.
Despite the loss, Luther still had life in the form of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament, where they would travel to Pella, Iowa to take on the Central College Dutch. It was a chance for redemption after the first match was lost 2-1 at Luther on a night when Luther were able to out-shoot the Dutch 18-8.
A strong start for Luther looked to be a good sign for the Norse, as the pressure on the Central backs resulted in a few good chances for the boys in blue. They continued to put the Dutch under pressure, but when Central was able to win a corner kick in the 25th minute, a poor clearance let a Central player get on the end of a loose ball in the box and put Central up 1-0.
Luther continued to battle throughout the match, never giving up and continuing to create good chances to score, but it was as if there was a lid on the goal and shots sailed wide time and time again. The boys gave it their all as they have all year, but in the end it was not good enough to be victorious on this day.
Luther lost the game 1-0, thus concluding the 2010 season and the playing careers of five seniors. Though the season did not end as many would have hoped, they were successful in so many ways. Winning more games, conceding fewer goals, and scoring more goals than last year, this team is showing signs of improvement. Most importantly, this team fought hard, trained hard, and enjoyed playing the game they love with the people they love all year long. We send our deepest appreciation for Luther's 2010 seniors Alex Case, Andy Eisenberg, Mike Olson, Jason Lentz and Gui Castro for their commitment to this program and school.
