ST. PETER, MINN. –  In the opening round of the NCAA tournament the Norse fell to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 3-1. Will Overberg (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial) scored the lone goal for the Norse in the first half. Luther finishes the season as A-R-C Tournament Champions and an overall record of 12-4-5.
 
NOT THE RETURN WE WERE LOOKING FOR
For the first time since 2019, Luther returned to the NCAA tournament and it felt good to be back. The Norse would come up against first time tournament attendee UW-Eau Claire on a chilly afternoon at Gustavus Adolphus. The opening minutes of the game for both teams was shaky but it was the Blugolds who would strike first. With a sequence of quick passing Carter Thiesfeld found the back of the net for UW-Eau Claire. However, the Norse don't like to stay behind for long as just 42 seconds later Will Overberg (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial) scored the equalizer. The game would stay tied at 1-1 until the 22^nd minute when the Blugolds leading scorer got through the Norse defense to go up by one. Luther had more chances than the UW-Eau Claire but just unlucky with none finding the back of the net. The Norse outshot the Blugolds 8-3 in the first half but on paper UW-Eau Claire was just ahead.
 
In the final fourty-five the Norse continued to fight forward getting players into the box and taking shots. But UW-Eau Claire defense kept getting in the way. As the clock ticked on the game got more and more chippy as frustrations came into play. The Norse had quite a few good looks once again but nothing could get quite through. As all Luther needed was a goal for some life as they kept fighting. But in the 87^th minute UW-Eau Claire would get an insurance goal taking a 3-1 lead. The Norse tried to get things going on the restart but in the end, it wasn't their day.
 
Luther finishes the 2022 season with an overall record of 12-4-5 and as A-R-C Tournament Champions since 2019. For the seniors and fifth years that came back to play the season was still one they won't forget. They'll be back in the NCAA tournament soon that's for sure.
 
TOP NORSE

• Senior Will Overberg (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial) scored the equalizer for his 10^th goal of the year. He finishes his career playing 74 games with 30 goals, 29 assists for 89 career points.
• Junior William Valentine (Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola) was fierce on the field creating chances and stripping away the ball from the Blugolds.

 
QUOTE FROM THE POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
"The belief that our group has in what we're able to do is win games." – Head Coach Chris Garcia-Prats
 
"It's always our goal. We have high expectations at this program. As I said before we're a winning program." – Marcos Vila
 
"Winning the conference being champions again and making the tournament was really a motivator for me and for us. – Will Overberg
 
For all the latest on Luther Men's Soccer, stay tuned to luthernorse.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.