CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR OCTOBER 31, 2012
Women's Soccer Captures Outright MIAA Title With OT Win at Adrian - To host
MIAA Tourney;
Cross Country Teams Continue To Be Nationally-Ranked
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 2, Adrian 1 (OT)
By Mitch Blankespoor
ADRIAN – The Calvin College women’s soccer team needed overtime to defeat
Adrian 2-1 and win the MIAA Championship outright Wednesday afternoon.
Calvin pressed Adrian right from the start. Just two minutes into the
contest, junior midfielder Danielle Carter (DeWitt/DeWitt) ripped a shot from
20 yards out that hit the crossbar. The Adrian back line attempted to clear,
but could not get the ball out of its defensive third. Freshmen Paige Capel
(Hudsonville/Unity Christian), with her back to the goal, sent a through ball
to freshmen Taylor Ten Harmsel (Holland/Holland Christian) who shot a ball
short side past Adrian’s goalkeeper, Chayna Wallace, who was charging on the
play.
The possession in the next fifteen minutes stayed in the midfield. Neither
team enjoyed scoring chances, although the Knights had a slight advantage in
possession. In the 22nd minute, Adrian sophomore Erin Weide nearly equalized.
With her back to the goal, she turned to her left, and shot just over Calvin’s
net. The Knights took the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Calvin outshot Adrian 6-3 in the first half, four of its six shots were on
net.
Adrian came out the hungrier team in the second half. In the 52nd minute,
Weide received a pass at midfield, and saw daylight in front. Dribbling to her
right, she cracked a shot from 15 yards out, beating Ashton Hearn and tied the
game 1-1.
Calvin nearly regained the lead in the 71st minute. Sophomore midfielder Elle
Burman (Jenison/Unity Christian) sent a through ball to Capel. Wallace saved
Capel’s shot on net, but the rebound went right to senior Liz Cancel (St. Clair
Shores/Fraser). Cancel’s one-time effort sailed just over the bar.
The last great chance of regulation came from Weide. With seven minutes left,
Weide again broke lose on the near sideline. Hearn came off of her line, and
smothered the shot attempt wide of Calvin’s net.
Calvin started overtime on the offensive. Three minutes into overtime, Capel
had a shot from the penalty spot. Once again, Wallace shut the door. Five
minutes later, the Knights earned a throw in deep in Bulldog territory. Ten
Harmsel threw in to senior Francesca Smith (Bloomington, IL/Bloomington South).
Smith, with her back to the goal, turned and crossed a low ball into the box.
Junior Kelly Koets (Grandville/Calvin Christian) took one touch, and shot a
low ball towards the far corner of the goal passed the outstretched arms of
Wallace, giving the Knights the 2-1 victory.
Calvin outshot Adrian 12-11 in the 99-minute contest including a 9-4 advantage
in shots on goal.
“It was a pretty special moment.” Calvin head coach Mark Recker said. “To see
the all the hard work these ladies have put in during the season culminate in a
conference championship is very gratifying as a coach.”
The MIAA championship is the ninth for the Calvin women’s soccer program, more
than any other MIAA team. Calvin will host the MIAA Tournament as the top
seed. The semifinals take place at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Friday, November 2.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Calvin women's cross country team has moved up to number five in the
latest Division III National Poll conducted by the United States Track and
Field Cross Country Coaches Association. Meanwhile, the Calvin men's team is
once again ranked second in the men's poll and received two first place votes.
Haverford is the top-ranked team in the men's poll and received the other six
first place votes.
Both Calvin cross country teams are preparing for the NCAA III Regional meet
on November 10 at Anderson (IN) University.
Calvin currently has seven teams nationally ranked. In addition to its cross
country teams, its men's soccer team is ranked 22nd, its women's volleyball
team is ranked second, its women's basketball team is ranked number one, its
women's swimming and diving team is ranked 15th and its men's swimming and
diving team is ranked 25th.
USTFCCCA Division III National Polls:
http://www.ustfccca.org/2012/10/featured/haverford-mit-hold-their-ground-in-latest-diii-national-cross-country-poll
Received on Wed Oct 31 21:57:26 2012
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