Wild win for Central women’s soccer team

DUBUQUE – After a 3-0 halftime lead melted away, the Central College women’s soccer team found the last goal it needed for a 4-3 at the University of Dubuque Tuesday.

Central (11-1-0, 3-0-0 American Rivers Conference) raced out an early lead against Dubuque (6-5-2, 2-1-0 A-R-C), scoring twice in the first seven minutes. Rylee Rustad (senior, Gilbert, Ariz., Casteel HS) assisted Josie Newton’s (senior, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) goal in the fourth minute and Piper Eighmy (senior, Birmingham, Ala. Briarwood Christian HS) assisted Lila Gwynn (freshman, Cincinnati, Sycamore HS) in the seventh.

Kelly Duffy (senior, Breckenridge, Colo., Summit HS) cleaned up an Olivia DeVos (junior, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS shot attempt that was blocked in the 37th minute to make it a 3-0 halftime lead for the Dutch.

It was the Dubuque offense that started the second half strong, scoring a pair of goals in the first 15 minutes. After the teams were pulled off the field for an hour-long lightning delay, Dubuque equalized in the 71st minute.

The game-winning fourth goal started with a Rustad corner kick. Emerson Holle (sophomore, Gardner, Kan., Gardner-Edgerton HS) got a head on it and set up DeVos for her fourteenth goal of the season to take the lead at 79:26.

“What a match today,” coach Mike Kobylinski said. “Dubuque is always well coaches and a tough side to play. It was very rewarding to earn three points after a weather delay and see the game out.”

The Dutch are riding a nine-game winning streak and have started conference play 3-0 for the first time in program history.

“These are moments and goals that our program has set and lived by all year,” Kobylinski said. “Today was no different.”

Central hosts Wartburg College at noon on Saturday.