Shutout streak for Dutch women stays intact in soccer victory
Central College
PELLA — A school record fifth consecutive shutout lifted the Central College women’s soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Westminster College (Mo.) on Friday.
After allowing four goals in their first 105 minutes of action this season, the Dutch (5-1-1) have not allowed one in the 545 minutes since. The latest shutout coming against the 2015 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions from Westminster (1-4-0).
“Westminster is a good side,” coach Mike Kobylinski said. “They can cause fits for teams so it was a great match.
“Our defense starts in goal with Sydney Lunardi (senior, Bettendorf, Davenport Assumption HS) in goal. In my opinion she’s one of the best around. Defenders Kelsey Roxworthy (senior, St. Charles, Ill., East HS) and Rachel Verhun (junior, Ann Arbor, Mich., Pioneer HS) were rock solid today. They didn’t get subbed out at all.”
Freshman midfielder Mikaela Erickson (Spring Lake, Mich., Western Michigan Christian HS) got the scoring started with a goal from long range that curved over the outstretched fingers of the Blue Jay keeper and gave Central momentum.
It’s nice that a freshman can do that for us,” Kobylinski said. “For her to get her first collegiate on that shot was amazing.”
Erickson struck again on a free kick in the 72nd minute, to give Central 2-0 lead.
Just over four minutes later junior forward Kallie Holte (Kirksville, Mo.) notched her seventh goal of the season, taking a cross from Erin Manion (freshman, Delafield, Wis., Kettle Moraine HS) and diving for a header to make it 3-0.
“Kallie’s a winner,” Kobylinski said. “She’ll put her body on the line to do what it takes to score.”
Senior forward Kayla Sunvold (Runnells, Southeast Polk HS), who assisted Erickson’s first goal, scored for the third time this season, using a long cross through the box from Lauren Vahlkamp (sophomore, Quincy, Ill., Notre Dame HS) to close the scoring at 4-0.
Back-to-back home games means Central will host Principia College (Ill.) Saturday at 2 p.m. The Dutch will honor their five seniors in a senior day ceremony.
