CSR (Women's Soccer Shuts Out Olivet - Remains On Top of MIAA Standings)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR OCTOBER 16, 2007

Women’s Soccer Remains Unbeaten With Win Over Defensive-Minded Olivet

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Calvin 2, Olivet 0
(written by Bruce VanBaren’09)

GRAND RAPIDS -- Late goals by sophomores Allison Boender (Grandville/ Calvin
Christian) and senior Leah Scholten (Hudsonville/ Unity Christian) put Calvin
past defensive minded Olivet to give the Knights their ninth straight win and
extending their unbeaten streak to ten.

Calvin, ranked 19th in the latest Division III Coaches Top-25 National poll,
advances to 6-0-0 in the MIAA and with just two games remaining in the regular
season, has already clinched a first-round home game on October 27. They have
not yet secured the top seed, but with Albion’s 3-1 victory at Hope and
Kalamazoo’s 2-0 win over Adrian, the Knights are now five points ahead of
Albion, Hope and Kalamazoo.

Calvin’s prolific offense has scored a league high 26 goals, but Olivet held
the Knights in check the entire first half and most of the second half.

“They (Olivet) played very disciplined, very smart,” Coach Mark Recker said.
“They anticipated what [our offense] can do. Of course we missed some
opportunities that we would have liked to convert.”
Calvin outshot Olivet 16-0 in the first half as nearly all play was on the
Comet half, but the Knights were unable to find the net.

“[At the half], I asked them to be more aggressive, to take more risks and to
create more movement,” Recker said.
In the 75th minute, Elizabeth Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL/ Victor J. Andrew)
crashed towards the end line and sent a cross through the box. At the far
post, a charging Boender connected on her third goal of the season to break the
scoreless tie. For Ribbens, the assist increased her point total to 20, second
on the team to Carly Prins (Hudsonville/ Unity Christian).
Ten minutes later, when Olivet finally started pushing up the field pressuring
the Calvin defense, Scholten, playing stopper, pushed up and rocketed a shot
from just outside the box to put Calvin up 2-0. It was Scholten’s third goal
of the year.
Despite Olivet packing its entire defense and midfield inside and near the box,
the Knights remained patient and were able to increase their league leading
goal total to 28.

“You just recognize that you have the numbers on your side and you recognize
that something is eventually going to work in your favor,” Recker said.

Calvin out shot Olivet 29-1 and goalkeeper Alyssa Bergsma (Walker/ Calvin
Christian) didn’t see a single shot on goal.
The Knights, 11-3-1 overall, travel to Kalamazoo on Saturday and close out the
regular season at Albion next week Tuesday.

OTHER MIAA WOMEN’S SOCCER SCORES TUESDAY
Albion 3, Hope 1
Kalamazoo 2, Adrian 0
Saint Mary’s 8, Tri-State 2

MIAA WOMEN’S SOCCER STANDINGS THROUGH 10-16-07

Calvin 6-0-0
Albion 4-1-1
Kalamazoo 4-1-1
Hope 4-2-1
Saint Mary’s 3-2-2
Adrian 2-5-0
Alma 2-4-0
Olivet 1-5-1
Tri-State 0-6-0

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Tue Oct 16 21:49:30 2007