Offense firing on all cylinders for Central women’s soccer team
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA— In its final tune-up for the Iowa Conference season, the Central College women’s soccer team scored early and often in a 5-0 romp over Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) Tuesday.
The season record for the Dutch improved to 7-1 while the Vikings slid to 0-6.
Midfielder’s Lauren Vahlkamp’s (junior, Quincy, Ill., Notre Dame) unassisted effort just 27 seconds into the match gave Central a lead it would never relinquish.
“It’s always a good way to start the game,” coach Mike Kobylinski said. “We’ve been working with Lauren on taking people on one-on-one and she did that in the first 30 seconds.”
Central added three more goals in the first half from forward Erin Manion (sophomore, Delafield, Wis., Kettle Moraine HS), forward Elise Askelsen (sophomore, Indianola) and midfielder Cate Chistopherson (freshman, Omaha, Neb. North HS).
Midfielder Kallie Holte (senior, Kirksville, Mo.) assisted Manion and Midfielder Mikaela Erickson (sophomore, Spring Lake, Mich., Western Michigan Christian HS) assisted the goals of both Askelsen and Christopherson.
“Mikaela was one of the best players on the field today,” Kobylinski said. “I think she was the player of the game.”
The scoring continued in the second half with a strike from deep by midfielder Olivia Stoops (junior, Morton, Ill.), who was assisted by midfielder Hailey Budke (junior, Leavenworth, Kan., Lansing HS).
“Olivia had a really nice goal and Hailey did well coming off the bench,” Kobylinski said. “Their names don’t always show up in the statistics but they helped carry this group today.
Kobylinski was excited to get all 31 players who dressed for the game on the pitch as well to continue to work on the team’s depth.
“It was a good time to look at everybody,” Kobylinski said.
A road trip to Indianola Saturday to face Simpson College will mark the start of a daunting run through the league schedule according to Kobylinski.
“It’s a rivalry game and our women know that” Kobylinski said. “We’ve got some things to work on Thursday and Friday to get ready for a tough environment.”
