Central pushes Loras in women’s soccer loss
PELLA — The Central College women’s soccer squad stymied the American Rivers Conference champion Loras College side for much of Tuesday’s match but a couple of late tallies felled the Dutch in a 3-1 loss.
The Duhawks (15-1-0, 8-0-0 conference), who are also ranked No. 23 in Division III, struck first with a goal just past the 16-minute mark. Central (9-4-4, 8-0-0 conference) equalized early in the second half as Josie Newton (freshman, Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS) scored her first collegiate goal in the 62nd minute.
“That was a big shot by Josie,” coach Mike Kobylinski said. “That really gave us some momentum in the second half.”
Newton’s strike was just the second goal Loras has conceded in conference play the fourth overall on the season.
The Duhawks took control of the game with a pair of goals in the 77th minute and took the game to its final margin of 3-1.
“We did well limit to them for much of the game,” Kobylinski said. “Loras can nick a goal and settle the game. There’s a reason they won the league.”
For health reasons, Central was without the services of the team’s assist leader Paige Caill (senior, Castle Rock, Colo., Castle View HS) for the entire match and only were able to get 25 minutes out of starting right back Nicole Sinclair (sophomore, Arvada, Colo., Jefferson Academy HS).
Kobylinski cited Newton, Taylor Jones (sophomore, Knoxville) and Piper Eighmy (freshman, Birmingham, Ala., Briarwood Christian HS) as strong performers filling in for much of Cahill and Sinclair’s minutes.
“Those three were the difference for us today,” he said. “Taylor was outstanding and played the entire second half. Piper was immense when we shifted her to right back.”
Central awaits its draw in the American Rivers Conference postseason tournament. The Dutch could be the No. 4 seed and play at home on Saturday or be the No. 5 seed and play on the road. The seed is dependent on the results of Tuesday’s night match between Luther College and the University of Dubuque.
