CSR (Calvin Women's Soccer Team Captures MIAA Tournament Title)

Calvin Sports Report for November 4, 2006 (Part One)
Calvin Women’s Soccer Captures MIAA Tournament Title

GRAND RAPIDS - The nationally-ranked Calvin women’s soccer captured its first-ever MIAA Tournament title, defeating rival Hope 3-1 in the MIAA Tournament Championship game on Saturday afternoon at Calvin’s Zuidema Field.

Ranked third in the latest NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches’ poll, Calvin improved to 20-0-0 overall with Saturday’s victory with its total of 20 victory a new Calvin single-season record, surpassing the 19 wins set by Calvin’s 1997 team that finished 19-2-1.

Calvin has also clinched the MIAA’s automatic bid to next week’s NCAA III Tournament and will learn of its national tournament draw on Monday morning when the NCAA unveils its tournament field.

Calvin will be making its second straight appearance in the NCAA III Tournament including its fourth overall.

In its victory over Hope on Saturday, Calvin drew first blood, scoring on a goal by freshman Emily Ottenhoff (Palos Heights, IL) in the 28th minute of play. Ottenhoff was able to deflect a ball into the net on a scramble play in the goalmouth.

Hope (9-8-2) came back to knot the score at one on a goal by sophomore midfielder Allison VanBeek in the 32nd minute as VanBeek was able to break free up the left wing on a rush and blast a shot from the 20-yard line just inside the far post.

Calvin was able to take a 2-1 halftime lead however on a goal by senior Laura Rooks (Holland/Holland Christian HS) with 5:19 left in the first half. Rooks was set up on the play by a pass from senior Jill Capel (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS). After collecting the pass, Rooks sent a high curling shot from 25 yards out that slipped through the grasp of Hope goalkeeper Holly Nestle and into the back of the net.

Hope nearly tied the game midway through the second half when junior midfielder Sarah Cochrane broke free through the left slot and had a one-on-one with Calvin freshman goalkeeper Kayla Sulzer (St. Charles, MO). Sulzer was able to make a diving save on Cochrane’s shot from in close however. Less than a minute later, Hope junior midfielder Ellie Tresslar launched a high curling shot from 30 yards out that knuckled over the reach of Sulzer but deflected off the crossbar and was then cleared by the Calvin defense.

Ottenhoff was then able to provide the clinching goal for Calvin when she converted her second penalty kick of the season. Ottenhoff’s penalty kick goal came with 12:55 left in regulation. She was awarded the penalty kick after a Hope defender was charged with a red card for intentionally touching the ball with her hands on the goal-line to help prevent a goal. The penalty kick lifted Ottenhoff’s season goal total to seven.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Nov 4 15:13:54 2006