Five Dutch athletes earn league honors
Central College
PELLA—Five Central College athletes have been named Iowa Conference performers of the week.
Austin O’Brien (senior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) was named the men’s cross country runner of the week and Alayna Bailey (senior, forward, Des Moines, Hoover HS) was named women’s soccer offensive player of the week—both for the third time this season—while Danny Samson (senior, defensive line, Baxter, CMB HS) earned his second football defensive player of the week honor. Daniel Peacock (senior, midfielder, Ankeny) landed his first men’s soccer offensive player of the week award, while Mike Young (senior, linebacker, Country Club Hills, Ill., Hillcrest HS) earned his first award as football special teams player of the week.
Samson, Young protect Central’s house—Samson notched four sacks and 11 tackles, while Young returned a blocked field goal 85 yards for a victory-clinching touchdown in a 23-13 win over Buena Vista Saturday afternoon. Samson also added one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup, while Young was in on six tackles. Samson leads the conference with eight sacks—2.5 more than the next closest player. Young’s return came with 1:35 remaining in the game. The Dutch face Luther Saturday in Pella.
O’Brien runner-up at Jim Drews—O’Brien finished runner-up in the 496-individual field at the Wis.-La Crosse Jim Drews Invitational Saturday morning. Competing on the 8,000-meter course, O’Brien led the Dutch to a third-place finish out of 30 teams. It was his third top team finish this season. Central hosts the Iowa Conference Championships—its next competition—Nov. 2.
Bailey nets hat trick plus one—Bailey netted her league-leading 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th goals in a 7-0 rout over conference foe Buena Vista Saturday afternoon. It was the second shutout of the week and the ninth this season—a school record—as Central tied Nebraska Wesleyan 0-0 (2 OT) Tuesday. The four goals in one game were one short of the Central record (5, Lynette Woodrow, 2002). Bailey is now tied for third for goals in a single season, four behind all-time leader Heather Allbee. The win clinched a spot in the conference tourney. The Dutch face William Penn Tuesday in Pella.
Peacock positions Dutch for tourney—Peacock scored his second goal of the season and assisted on one more as the Central men bested league opponent Buena Vista 4-1 Saturday afternoon. The Dutch co-captain also led the team to a 2-0 shutout win over Nebraska Wesleyan Tuesday—the first shutout of the season. Central is positioned to qualify for the conference tournament with its next league win. The Dutch visit William Penn Tuesday night.
