CSR (Women's Soccer Snaps Losing Skid Against Ohio Wesleyan)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 8, 2006 (Part One)

Women's Soccer Snaps Losing Skid Against Ohio Wesleyan

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Calvin 5, Ohio Wesleyan 0

GRAND RAPIDS, MI * Over the years, the Ohio Wesleyan women’s soccer team has had Calvin’s number. Heading into Friday’s matchup at Calvin’s Zuidema Field, Ohio Wesleyan had posted a 4-0-1 record against Calvin including a 2-2 tie in a first round NCAA III Tournament game last November that saw the Battling Bishops advance in a penalty kick shootout.

On Friday however, the tables were finally turned as Calvin collected a convincing 5-0 victory over Ohio Wesleyan which entered the match ranked 17th in the latest D3kicks.com Top-25 poll.

Calvin (4-0-0) dominated the game throughout, outshooting Ohio Wesleyan 21-8 including 9-3 in the first half.

Despite having numerous scoring opportunities in the early going, the Knights were unable to get on the board until the 30th minute of play when senior Jill Capel took a through ball pass from freshman Emily Ottenhoff and whipped a shot past Ohio Wesleyan goalkeeper Ali Geary who was charging out of the box.

Calvin senior Sarah Weesies then scored her team-leading fifth goal of the year two-and-a-half minutes into the second half on a rush up the right side, giving the Knights a 2-0 lead.

Just over 10 minutes later, Ohio Wesleyan (2-1-0) put together its most dangerous offensive push as midfielder Michelle Corbett broke free for a point-blank shot from the right side of the box. Corbett’s shot was deflected wide on a spectacular sprawling save by Calvin freshman goalkeeper Kayla Sulzer. On the ensuing corner kick, Ohio Wesleyan’s Meredith Gerrick was able to a head a shot directly on goal but Sulzer came up with another diving save.

Calvin then put the game away with three goals in a 12-minute span. Playing in her first game of the year after suffering an off-season knee injury, sophomore Jessica Vegter gave Calvin a 3-0 lead, booting in a half-volley shot after collecting a serve in the box by sophomore Ashley Bolen on a free kick. Sophomore Elizabeth Ribbens added her second goal of the year, scoring in the 71st minute off a feed from freshman Natalie Veurink. Ribbens then set up sophomore Michelle Koele on Calvin’s final goal, tossing a deep throw-in into the box that eluded the goalkeeper and found the foot of Koele for an easy tap-in shot.

Sulzer went the final 45 minutes for Calvin in goal with freshman teammate Alyssa Bergsma going the first 45 minutes in combining for the first shutout victory of the year for the Knights. Bergsma had one save and Sulzer four saves. Gary had four saves for Ohio Wesleyan with Julia Ellis picking up two saves in the final 19 minutes of play.

Calvin returns to action on September 13 when it travels to conference opponent Albion for a non-conference game slated to start at 4:00 p.m.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Sep 8 19:40:26 2006