Mix of young and old paces Central women’s soccer team
PELLA — A strong core of experience on the Central College women’s soccer team will be infused with talented newcomers for the 2021 spring season.
The Dutch last played in October of 2019 after the 2020 fall season was wiped out by COVID-19. Central finished 6-10-2 with a 1-6-1 mark in American Rivers Conference play, missing the tournament for the first time since 2010.
Five starters return from that team and 12 additional returners have earned varsity letters. A 12-member freshmen class and a pair of transfers brings even more excitement.
“Team cohesion was something we put a premium on in the offseason,” coach Mike Kobylinski said. “The team leadership and cohesion has been great and the overall training environment last fall and so far this spring has been outstanding.”
The 2021 spring schedule will feature just eight conference matches for Central.
“It’s going to be a competitive conference,” Kobylinski said. “I think we have one of the toughest leagues in the nation. Loras, Wartburg and Dubuque are probably the favorites after finishing in the top three in 2019. The whole league will be outstanding, it’s just a matter of who is playing well on that day.”
The team had some training sessions in the fall but will have had just a few weeks of full-team practices in March to prepare for its first contest.
“Some teams have been already playing non-conference games and some have been training for over a month,” Kobylinski said. “Every school has their own challenges.”
Forwards
Katie Wang (senior, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Park Center HS) had a pair of goals in conference matches in 2019. Transfer Rachel Daniels (sophomore, Geneseo, Ill.) was a conference MVP in high school and has shown well in training according to Kobylinski.
“Katie is a captain for us and is leading really well,” he said. “Rachel is going to be a handful for opposing teams.”
Senior Jessica Altman (senior, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) will also provide a scoring punch. Up top.
“She’s showing good things in practice and has hit a few rockets,” Kobylinski said.
Central has speedy crop of athletes who can play either outside forward or outside midfield depending on the team’s shape. Sophomore Jacie Borman (Eagan, Minn.) will be on the right side after leading the team with nine assists as a freshman. A talented freshmen trio of Paige Cahill (freshman, Castle Rock, Colo., Castle View HS), Jasmine Trinidad (freshman, Las Vegas, Nev., Sierra Vista HS) and Abby Sutberry (freshman, Lee’s Summit, Mo., St. Michael HS) will contribute after high-scoring high school careers.
“We’ll be young on the outside,” Kobylinski said. “But young and fast with players that scored a lot of goals in high school and club. They are all solid attackers and I’m excited about that.”
Midfielders
No matter what formation the Dutch are in, the midfield will be loaded with top underclassmen as freshmen and sophomores appear to be leading the charge.
“It’s going to be an outstanding midfield,” Kobylinski said. “Our overall team speed and technical ability allows us to use some different combinations and styles of play we haven’t done before.”
Abby Frey (freshman, Mesa, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS) and Kaitlyn Isom (freshman, Phoenix, Ariz., Horizon Honors) will contribute in the middle of the park. Ceora LeClaire (junior, Des Moines, Carlisle) and Gabi Toulon (senior, Normal, Ill., West HS) provide additional experience in the middle.
Bridget Lynch (sophomore, Northglenn, Colo., Jefferson Academy) played a lot of different roles last year but Kobylinski sees her settling into a defensive midfielder position with the capability to attack at times.
“She’s technically and tactically astute,” he said. “She played all over the park last year. We’re excited about some new components she’s added to her game.”
Defenders
Central suffered a blow when the returning starter at right back Cate Christopherson (senior, Omaha, Neb., North HS) was injured in the preseason and will miss the season.
“We’re very sad for Cate,” Kobylinski said. “She has done a lot for the program.”
The Dutch do get a boost with the return of junior Syd Canney (Adel, ADM HS) who missed the 2019 season with an injury. She’ll likely play on the right side of a back line that also features Alyssa Knuth (sophomore, St. Joseph, Mich.) and Maddi Fisher (freshman, Marion, Linn-Mar HS). Transfer Lily Walker (junior, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) is also drawing attention and Ashley Donohoue (junior, Littleton, Colo.) returns for her third season.
“We do have some experience in the back,” Kobylinski said. “We also have some really good young players that are pushing as well after good high school and club careers.”
Goalkeepers
Taylor Golt (senior, Crystal Lake, Ill., Prairie Ridge HS) was the primary starter and earned six wins in 2019 but Leann Grandia (sophomore, West Des Moines, Valley HS) also started four matches and played over 500 minutes in goal.
Kobylinski is also excited about the promise he has seen in freshman Jasmyn Bush (freshman, La Porte City, Union HS) and sophomores Sheila Horstmann (West Des Moines, Valley HS) and Quinn Deahl (Cedar Rapids, Prairie HS).
“It’s going to be a very competitive position,” he said. “Taylor and Leann shared some time in 2019 and both have shown well this spring. Jasmyn was a good high school keeper. Sheila is practicing well and Quinn is coming back off an injury. We just have a lot of quality goalkeepers on our roster.”
Central opens the season at home Saturday against Coe College for a 1 p.m. match.
