Dutch women’s soccer team brings back potent offense

PELLA — After scoring 2.5 goals per game in 2022, the Central College women’s soccer team returns nearly all its offensive weapons for the 2023 season.

Amongst the team’s seven starters and 16 returning letterwinners are the players responsible for 102 of the team’s 119 points, including its top four players who tallied 71 of those points. Defensively, the Dutch recorded nine shutouts and bring back much of their defensive core.

The Dutch were 9-6-3 overall last year, including a 3-3-2 mark in American Rivers Conference matches while tying for fifth place in the nine-team league in coach Mike Kobylinski’s 12th season. The Dutch have averaged 10 wins while making the conference tournament 10 of the last 11 seasons.

“The conference race will be as competitive as ever,” Kobylinski said. “We have a goal to be a top-four team in the league but we also think we are good enough to compete for a conference title. We’re going to work as hard as we can on and off the field to accomplish it.

Either Loras or Wartburg have won the last six league titles but the talent level in the league goes beyond those two.

“Wartburg and Loras have been at the top for a while,” Kobylinski said. “But we regularly have three or four other teams ranked in the region. It’s one of the best conferences in the region and we just need to be ready to compete.”

Central has set another tough non-conference schedule, including a September 20 trip to NCAA qualifier Grinnell College. Other key non-conference contests are at Northwestern – St. Paul (Minn.) on September 6 and home matches against Hope College (Mich.) on September 2 and Greenville College (Ill.) on September 26. All three of those opponents finished in the top three of their respective leagues.

“We need those tough matches to give us a chance to be an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament,” Kobylinski said. “Those matches will be tough, but those teams are going to push us.”

In addition to the team’s regular non-traditional practice schedule, much of the team was able to travel to Germany and Netherlands over spring break.

“It helped us grow as a team,” Kobylinski said. “We were able to get in some valuable training sessions and matches. We are excited to take what we learned on and off the pitch from that cultural experience and apply it this fall and for years to come.”

Kobylinski will be joined by assistants Izzy Pavlak and Russ Goodman in their second and 14th seasons, respectively.

“Coach Izzy provides a lot to this program on and off the pitch,” Kobylinski said. “She is finding her way as a coach, and it is very exciting to see. They are both assets to the success of this program and I enjoy working with them.”

Forwards/midfielders

An all-region and all-conference forward as a sophomore, Grace Coates (junior, Marion-Linn-Mar HS) tallied 12 goals. Classmate Amber Santana (junior, Indio, Calif., Shadow Hills HS) was the second-highest goal scorer with seven and both are expected to be key figures at the top of the formation again.

“Grace was top-three in all offensive categories in the league,” Kobylinski said. “She has the pedigree to be a very solid player in this conference and can push to be among the top goal scorers in the league and in the region. Amber was third on our team in points and scored some big goals for us last year. She’s worked hard this past spring slotting at the number 10 position. Those two combined well last year and we’d love to see more of it.”

Abby Frey (senior, Mesa, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS) and Mimi Pavelka (sophomore, Shakopee, Minn., Holy Family) are experienced in the central midfield. Frey has started 38 games over three seasons, scoring 14 goals and nine assists. Pavelka played in all 18 games of her freshman season, starting seven times.

“Abby is one of the best ball strikers in the league,” Kobylinski said. “She’s a talented player who likes to have the ball at her feet. Her vision has improved this spring and I think she’s excited to go out and prove what she can do on the field.

“MiMi really came on last fall and then showed us a lot during the spring and especially in Europe. We’re excited for her potential and we think she’ll be contributing a lot this year.

Out wide on the left, Paige Cahill (senior, Castle Rock, Colo., Castle View HS) tied a school record and led the league with 10 assists last season. She can also finish herself, adding five goals.

“She’s one of the best attackers and distributors in the league,” Kobylinski said. “Her pace is tremendous and can really cause problems for other teams. She never stops attacking.”

There are several options to play opposite Cahill on the right, including seniors Hailey Hunter (Rockford, Ill., East HS) and Kaitlyn Isom (Phoenix, Ariz., Horizon Honors). Hunter had a goal and three assists in 16 appearances. Isom, the team’s Most Valuable Player two years ago, had a goal in just two games played.

“Isom has been working through some injury issues since last fall but we’re hopeful she’ll be back and ready to contribute. She can serve up some quality crosses and she can also get on the end of crosses to score goals. Her competitive spirit will bring out the best in other players.”

“Hailey really came on this spring and improved a lot,” Kobylinski said. “Her attitude and work rate are contagious. She’s the epitome of a team player and we’re excited for what she can do in her senior year.”

Senior Emmy Drake (Wilton) and sophomores Esther Hughes (Kalona, Hillcrest Academy), Taylor Jones (Knoxville) and Annaliese Miller (Indianola) are offensive-minded options who could play in a variety of roles.

“Emmy works her socks off in every practice and match she plays in,” Kobylinski said. “She really understands our team-first mentality. Esther, Taylor and Annaliese provide a physical presence on the outside and it will be exciting to see them compete.”

Freshmen Josie Newton (Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS) and Piper Eighmy (Birmingham, Ala., Briarwood Christian HS) will push to see minutes on the outside as well.

“Josie impressed us at our winter clinic and summer camp with her ability to get behind defenders,” Kobylinski said. “Piper is a ball winner in the air and can also strike a ball very well.”

Defenders

Fifth-year senior Bridget Lynch (Northglenn, Colo., Jefferson Academy) is set to anchor the back line for the Dutch. She’s spent time on the outside, but she will be featured as a center back or defensive midfielder this year. If she pushes to midfield, it could bring Isom into the back row.

“Bridget is going to do whatever the team needs,” Kobylinski said. “Her presence and ability to distribute and cover gaps is much needed. She’s been a key cog in our program for quite some time and we are thankful to coach her for another season.”

Sophomore Bailey Huizenga (Colona, Ill., Geneseo HS) started all 18 games last season in a center back role but can also play defensive midfielder.

“Bailey is a sound player,” Kobylinski said. “She’s shown some strong leadership on the pitch as well. She gives a full effort all the time and her distributing abilities can start our counter attacks.”

Nicole Sinclair (sophomore, Arvada, Colo., Jefferson Academy) battled through some injuries as a freshman but still garnered valuable experience as a right wingback for Central. She’s likely to get the first look in that spot.

“Nicole was really a man-marker in our conference matches,” Kobylinski said. “She’s one of the toughest man markers in our league and one of the fastest wing backs.”

There’s an open competition to fill the left wingback slot led by a pair of newcomers in transfer Katy Brown (sophomore, St. Charles, Mo., Orchard Farm HS) and freshman Alli Seegers (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS). Emma Garrett (junior, Mason City) is a returner who has logged some minutes in that role as well.

“Emma provides inspiration for our team and works as hard as she can in training and matches” Kobylinski said. “She has improved a lot as a defender and goes into tackles very hard.

“Katy was an all-state player high school and we are excited to see what an do at outside back and center back. Alli was an all-state player on a state championship team. She’s versatile and plays with a chip on her shoulder.”

Goalkeepers

The team’s lone returning goalkeeper is Bailey Lester (sophomore, Sioux Falls, S.D., Washington HS). She only made one 19-minute appearance in goal during her freshman season, but she was the team’s top option during the spring for the non-traditional practice season and the trip to Europe.

“Bailey did well this spring,” Kobylinski said. “She definitely improved in some areas, and I think the spring season helped her.”

Zoey Sizemore (freshman, Omaha, Neb., Mercy HS) was an all-state performer in high school and is ready to make the jump to college soccer.

“She has pedigree and experience,” Kobylinski said. “She’s confident and she’s ready to compete with Bailey.”

Freshmen

Four of the eight freshmen players joining the program were all-state honorees in their high school careers and hail from five different states.

“We’ve got all-state players from Alabama, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa,” Kobylinski said. “We also have some strong players who have been captains, starters, and all conference performers for their high schools and club teams. We are also excited to add Alyssa Castillo (Bonita, Calif., Bonita Vista HS) who is a crafty center midfielder as well as Kennedy Lind (Aplington, Iowa, Aplington Parkersburg HS) and Georgia Havlicek (Solon) who both can compete in the back line. It’s a quality group that will hopefully help us reach our goals. Some of them will see considerable game time this year and some will have to work their way into the lineup.”

Central opens the season at home Friday, September 1 against St. Mary’s College (Ind.) at 1 p.m.