CSR (Hope Edges Calvin In Women's Soccer * Creates Tie For First Place in League Standings

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2005

Hope Edges Calvin 2-1 To Create First Place Tie in MIAA Standings

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Hope 2, Calvin 1

GRAND RAPIDS -- In today's match-up between Calvin and rival Hope College, Hope came out victorious 2-1. Calvin (13-3-1) and Hope (15-2-0) now stand in a tie for first place in the MIAA, each with a 12-1-0 league record. Each team has yet to play three more league games.

Though Calvin scored the first goal of the game on a penalty kick by junior Jill Capel (Hudsonville/Unity Christian), Hope would answer two-fold with goals by freshman Alison VanBeek and sophomore Sarah Cochrane late in the first half.

Capel's penalty kick came in the 24th minute as she drew a foul in the box. She followed by drilling a shot into the far side of the net. Cochrane's goal, though not a penalty kick, also resulted from a foul * off a free kick.

Both teams were scoreless in the second half, giving Hope a 2-1 victory. The victory was the first by Hope at Calvin since a 1-0 win during the 2000 season.

Ranked 19th nationally, Calvin did, however, have some great looks at the goal in the second half. Freshman Michelle Koele (Denver, CO/Denver Christian) had a great look off of a huge throw-in by freshman Jessica Vegter (Hudsonville/Unity Christian), but the shot went wide. Junior Sarah Weesies (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian) also had a shot within a few yards of the goal mouth that went just wide. Capel and the Hope keeper ran into each other as the keeper blocked a header, preventing a potential goal. Junior Laura Rooks (Holland/Holland Christian) also had a near goal as her punt from 40 yards out hit the crossbar. The Knights also saw many rebound shots and action near the goal-mouth, but were not able to score.

Head Coach Mark Recker said, "Hope came in with more energy and motivation, winning most of the balls in the first half. In the second half it was more 50-50, but Hope managed to do enough to keep the ball out of their net."

Hope did in fact out shoot Calvin 10-9 in the first half, while Calvin dominated the second half, out-shooting Hope 9-3. Leading Calvin was Capel with six shots and the lone Calvin goal, followed by Weesies with three shots and Rooks with two.

The loss to Hope ended Calvin's five-game win streak, while Hope extends their win streak to eight games, last losing to Calvin a month ago.

The Knights return to MIAA action on Saturday at Albion. Saturday's game is scheduled to begin at noon.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Oct 26 19:33:46 2005