Central bounced from league women’s soccer tournament
DUBUQUE— Conceding an early goal forced the Central College women’s soccer team to play from behind nearly all the American Rivers Conference tournament quarterfinal match at the University of Dubuque, which finished as a 2-1 defeat for Central.
It took not even seven minutes for the Spartans (11-5-1) to go in front of the Dutch (9-5-4).
“We conceded a scramble of a goal off a corner kick,” coach Mike Kobylinski said. “It was certainly a deflating goal. It was a classic American Rivers Conference battled where one goal decided it.
Dubuque scored in the 73rd minute but Central got on the board in the 78th minute when Grace Coates (junior, Marion) found Alli Seegers (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) for her first collegiate goal.
“We did well to come back and make it a match in the last 13 minutes,” Kobylinski said. “Alli struck a wonderful goal when we moved her up top. She got a nice assist from Grace.”
Injuries caught up to the Dutch in the final week of the season and left the side shorthanded. Paige Caill (senior, Castle Rock, Colo., Castle View HS), the team’s assist leader with 11, was limited to 44 minutes. Kaitlyn Isom (senior, Phoenix, Ariz., Horizon Honors) was not available for the second half and Abby Frey (senior, Mesa, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS) hasn’t played since September 24. Both Isom and Frey started since their freshman year and have been recognized on the American Rivers All-Conference list previously.
Isom, Frey, Cahill as well as Emmy Drake (Wilton), Hailey Hunter (Rockford, Ill., East HS) and fifth-year Bridget Lynch (fifth year, Northglenn, Colo., Jefferson Academy) make up the senior class of this year’s team.
“I told the team after the match that I felt the seniors helped leave this program in a better place,” Kobylinski said. “The future is bright.”
Central, who finished tied for third in the league standings but was the fifth seed based on goal differential, will return a large portion of its roster for next season.
“We had a goal to finish in the top four and we did that,” Kobylinski said. “To finish three spots higher than predicted is pleasing but we are not satisfied.”
