Dutch jilted in women’s soccer defeat
CEDAR RAPIDS — Midfielder Katie Wang’s (sophomore, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Park Center HS) second goal of the year for the Central College women’s soccer team tied the match in the 87th minute, but Coe College found its second goal with 30 seconds remaining for a 2-1 triumph Saturday night.
The loss dropped Central to 5-10-2 (0-6-1 conference) while Coe improved to 8-6-2 (3-3-1 conference).
“We did everything we could to put ourselves in the game,” coach Mike Kobylinski said. “It’s always a tough game against Coe. We gave it 100 percent and came up just short.”
A scoreless match for 68 minutes and 51 seconds, the Kohawks struck first to take a 1-0 lead. Wang tallied the equalizer at the 86:54 mark courtesy of an assist from forward Erin Manion (senior, Delafield, Wis., Kettle Moraine HS).
“Katie had a nice finish there,” Kobylinski said. “It gave us some hope.”
The Kohawks broke the hearts of the Dutch with a header off a corner kick as the clock struck 89:30, leaving just 30 seconds in the match.
“Unfortunately, they got a corner and capitalized off of it,” Kobylinski said. “It’s always a hard pill to swallow and has kind of been the story of our season so far.”
Goalkeeper Taylor Golt (junior, Crystal Lake, Ill., Prairie Ridge HS) had a trio of first-half saves. Kobylinski also cited his starting back line of senior Stephanie Noble (Huntley, Ill.), sophomore Ceora LeClaire (Des Moines, Carlisle HS) and freshmen Alyssa Knuth (St. Joseph, Mich.) and Bridget Lynch (Northglenn, Colo., Jefferson Academy).
Three of the team’s six conference losses have been by a single goal. Additionally, two of its non-conference losses were 1-0 defeats.
The season finale for Central is 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon against Buena Vista University on the home pitch at A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex.
“Hopefully, we can get the seniors win No. 45,” Kobylinski said. “I’m proud of this senior class and all they accomplished in their four years. We’ll try to send them out a winner.”
