Late goal tops Central women’s soccer team

Central College

NAPERVILLE, ILL. — North Central (Ill.) converted on a late scramble in the box and escaped the Central College women’s soccer team 1-0 Saturday.

The game was scoreless for 88:11 before North Central’s Rebecca Sneddon tucked away her scoring chance.

That was about all that separated the two teams, according to coach Mike Kobylinski.

North Central (1-0-1) outshot Central 15-5, but the Dutch (2-2) held a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks. Dutch goalkeeper Sydney Lunardi (sophomore, Bettendorf, Davenport Assumption HS) made eight saves.

“It was a very hard game and very physical,” Kobylinski said. “It was back and forth but give North Central credit, they played well.”

But he was encouraged.

“I thought in the second half we played much better,” he said. “We made some adjustments at halftime, so credit to the players for that. And in the second half of back-to-back games, I thought we were just as fit, if not more. That’s a positive that will hold well in (Iowa) Conference play.”

Kobylinski saw other favorable signs.

“We were really solid defensively,” he said. “(Back) Liz Daniels (senior, Oconomowoc, Wis.) played well again.”

The Dutch were without forward Brittany Hinton (senior, Davenport, West HS) in the second half due to injury, although Kobylinski is hopeful she’ll return to action soon. But forward Rachel Schmidt (junior, Urbandale) performed well.

“Rachel had her best game,” said Kobylinski, who also singled out midfielders Emily Saville (senior, Cedar Rapids, Linn-Mar HS) and Kalee Findlay (freshman, Grimes, Dallas-Center Grimes HS).

Central is home Thursday to meet Grinnell. The Pioneers are 1-1 heading into a Sunday game at Carleton (Minn.). Central won a 1-0 match at Grinnell last fall.

“They’ll be tough,” Kobylinski said. “It seems like it’s always a one-goal game with them.

“We’ll regroup and hope to get healthy by then. And we’ll focus a ton on passing this week.”