Manion receives American Rivers Conference female athlete of the week plaudits

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA— A four-goal outing helped secure the American Rivers Conference female athlete of the week recognition for Central College women’s soccer player Erin Manion (junior, Delafield, Wis., Kettle Moraine HS).

Also earning the women’s soccer offensive player of the week, Manion is joined by Dutch football player Drew Smith (sophomore, linebacker, Joliet, Ill., West HS) and women’s cross country runner Miranda Kruiswyk (freshman, Dunlap, Ill.), who earned the same recognition in their sport.

In addition to her four goals against North Park University (Ill.) in an 8-2 win Monday, Manion added a goal and an assist at Wisconsin Lutheran College Saturday night in 4-0 victory. She’s tied for 12th in Division III with her five total goals.

Central (3-1) returns to its home pitch for a 5 p.m. match against Knox College on Tuesday night.

Kruiswyk received the women’s cross country runner of the week award a second time in a row after taking second at the Les Duke Invitational over the weekend. She crossed the line in 23 minutes and 18 for the 8,000-meter race.

The Dutch cross country teams will be off until the Rim Rock Classic in Lawrence, Kansas on September 29.

Smith led the defensive charge for Central in a 16-10 win at DePauw University (Ind.) He had a team-high 17 tackles for a Central team that allowed just 78 yards of rushing offense and 257 total yards of offense. The Tigers were held to 13 first downs in the game.

The Dutch (2-0) will make their home debut this Saturday, hosting Luther College (0-2) for a 1 p.m. kickoff.