Central women’s soccer squad blanks Westminster
Central College
PELLA — Central College got the second-half effort coach Mike Kobylinski was looking for in a 3-0 women’s soccer shutout of Westminster College (Mo.) Saturday.
While the Dutch (4-2-2) dominated the opening half statistically, outshooting Westminster (3-3) 15-1 and leading 1-0, Kobylinski thought there was margin for improvement. Central turned up the intensity and added two second-half scores for the decisive win.
“It was a much better second half for us,” he said. “We addressed some things at halftime and credit to our leaders, they got the team going.”
Forward Emily Saville (senior, Cedar Rapids, Linn-Mar HS) got the Dutch on the board in the 14th minute with her fourth goal, getting an assist from forward Kallie Holte (freshman, Kirksville, Mo.) Forward Brittany Hinton (senior, Davenport, West HS) notched her second goal in the 68th minute with an assist from forward Rachel Schmidt (junior, Urbandale). And midfielder Anissa Stanitzek (sophomore, Grand Rapids, Mich., Coopersville HS) got an unassisted goal, her second, in the 85th minute.
“Anissa had a peach of a shot, a 30-yarder to the far bar,” Kobylinski said.
Meanwhile the Dutch defense posted its fifth shutout in eight games.
“We’re very solid defensively,” Kobylinski said.
He also cited the performance of midfielder Abby Hilmer (freshman, Hudson).
“Abby did a phenomenal job in the middle,” he said. “That’s her best game to date.”
Sydney Lunardi (sophomore, Bettendorf, Davenport Assumption HS) and Savana Robinson (sophomore, Des Moines, Hoover HS) shared the goalkeeping duties. Each had one save.
Central is home again Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field to take on St. Catherine University (Minn.). The Wildcats are 1-4-1 after dropping a 1-0 double-overtime match against St. Thomas (Minn.) Saturday.
“They’re a good team,” Kobylinski said. “We’ve got to play like we did in the second half to win.”
It’s Central’s final pre-Iowa Conference game of the year. The Dutch travel to Loras College next Saturday to open league play.
