Tommie goalkeeper Grant Larson turned away three shots, including a game-saving stop on a penalty kick, to lead the St. Thomas men’s soccer team to a 2-1 win over Loras College (Iowa) Monday at South Field.

Loras was unable to get past the Tommie defense. St. Thomas (9-5 overall, 4-3 MIAC) spent the first half forcing multiple turnovers and gaining early scoring opportunities. Both teams were organized but shared equal possession throughout the half.

“The first half was good,” coach Jon Lowery said. “We had a really rigid game plan to absorb their direct pressure and also find pockets to play so we could alleviate the time in which we were being put into that uncomfortable press that they have.”

Larson shut down Loras’ ability to take the lead early in the game. Both teams fought hard but failed to put the ball in the net.

“Our defense played spectacularly,” Larson said. “We had that diamond shape in the goal box. The quick away call, we always got it out of the box quick and we just pushed it up the field.”

Forward Miles Stockman-Willis turned the tide when he drilled in a free kick at the 51st minute to begin the second half. The Loras defense struggled to come back from the 1-0 lead the Tommies held.

“Before the game I was telling myself that I was feeling it,” Stockman-Willis said. “I took eight (free kicks) before the game and was feeling pretty good. I just tried to go to the keeper’s right, and it ended up landing pretty sweetly on the bell.”

In the 72nd minute, Loras forward Jorge Simon was able to sneak in a free kick from outside of the box, tying the game 1-1.

Loras was called for a penalty inside the box at the 80th minute, allowing Tommie defender Mark Heydt to score his fourth goal of the season on a penalty kick.

“Just a crazy college soccer game where we get a penalty kick,” Lowery said. “I thought Miles was just special to create that; Mark was flawless and ruthless with his delivery.”

In the 86th minute, Larson denied a crucial penalty kick from Loras, stopping the Duhawks from tying the game and sending it into overtime.

Loras was unable to get through the strong Tommie defense in the remaining minutes, awarding St. Thomas its hard-fought victory.

“It was a great win,” Stockman-Willis said. “We took down the 14th-ranked team in the country for the second year straight. We work hard, it took a lot of players to do it and we’re real happy with it.”

St. Thomas returns to conference play when it hosts St. Mary’s Saturday. The Tommies sit in fifth place in the MIAC, and Lowery said the team hopes to keep the momentum from Monday’s game rolling into the final three games of the season.

“The guys are going to get a dose of humility tomorrow,” Lowery said. “We’re back in the MIAC and I don’t think we’re focused on who we’re playing, but how we’re playing and what we can do to get three more points in the conference.”

Eric Bromback can be reached at brom0030@stthomas.edu.