Overtime penalty kick ends Central’s women’s soccer season

INDIANOLA—Simpson College converted a penalty kick in the first overtime period to eliminate the Central College women’s soccer team in a 2-1 American Rivers Conference tournament quarterfinal loss Saturday.

Central finishes its season with a 9-8-1 mark. Simpson, the No. 3 seed, advances to play the No. 2 seed Wartburg College in the semifinals on Tuesday.

“We had a great account for ourselves today,” coach Mike Kobylinski said. “We played well. We had some players back healthy and we gave them a good game. I couldn’t be prouder of the women and how we struck through as a team and battled.”

Central tallied the first goal of the game in the 70th minute as Kaitlyn Isom (sophomore, midfielder, Phoenix, Ariz., Horizon Honors Academy) headed in a corner kick from Abby Frey (sophomore, Mesa, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS).

“Abby served in two or three peaches on set pieces,” Kobylinski said. “Isom rose up and tucked it away with her head. She did well to get a goal there.”

Simpson equalized with a penalty kick in the 82nd minute and then Maddie Hays converted the second penalty kick in the 99th minute to seal the win.

The two teams were even on shots and Central had a 10-7 advantage on shots on goal. Jasmyn Bush (sophomore, La Porte City, Union HS) made five saves in goal.

Central graduates just one senior from this year’s squad, defender Sydney Canney (junior, Adel, ADM HS). Canney served as a captain for two seasons after missing all but the first half of the opening game her sophomore year dur to a season-ending injury.

“She was a warrior all year,” Kobylinski said. “She had some good words for the team at the end of the game. I couldn’t be prouder of the contributions she had made.”

Central returns a wealth of talent for the 2022 season, including 10 starters.

“I’m so excited for the future,” Kobylinski said. “Even though it was a tough loss today. We battled throughout the year and gave everything we could”