By Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – After surrendering a goal a minute into the game in a 1-0 defeat at Olivet on Sept. 14, the Kalamazoo College women's soccer team got its revenge Wednesday, Oct. 16 within the friendly confines of MacKenzie Field. The Hornets needed 109:53 seconds to defeat the Comets, but a goal from junior defender Karen Timm with seven seconds remaining in double overtime gave Kalamazoo a 1-0 victory.
"We did not quit all game," Kalamazoo Head Coach Bryan Goyings said in a post-game interview. "We deserved to win the game tonight. I would have been disappointed with a draw."
Kalamazoo put the pressure on Olivet early. Fortunately for the Comets, the Hornets were called for four offside penalties in the first 15 minutes. Kalamazoo freshman forward Sydney Spring fired the game's first shot in the 23rd minute. The Hornets would take two more shots in the next two minutes, both of which were high of target.
The best scoring chance for either team came in the 36th minute. Olivet's Lindsey Winters fired off a 25-yard shot aiming for the high corner. Kalamazoo sophomore goalkeeper Lucy Mailing dove to her left and tipped the ball over the crossbar. The Hornets cleared the ensuing corner kick.
"The high shot is a tough save in the women's game," Goyings said in a post-game interview. "Lucy [Mailing] did a great job to poke the ball over the bar."
With the teams scoreless after one half of play, another 45 minutes could not yield a goal. In both halves, Kalamazoo fired three shots and Olivet fired two. It took the Hornets until the second overtime to pick up their offense.
Kalamazoo did indeed increase its offense. The Hornets took six of their 13 shots in the second overtime. After continued pressure on Olivet's net, junior defender Karen Timm took a shot off of a corner kick from just inside the box. The ball beat Olivet goalkeeper Deanna Zolnoski, but it was cleared off the line by a Comet defender.
Timm would get her revenge five minutes later. With just over 10 seconds to play, Olivet was called for a foul inside of its half of the field. Timm, without hesitation, fired a 30-yard strike beating Zolnoski to give K the 1-0 victory in double overtime.
Kalamazoo outshot Olivet 13-5 in the contest. K also held a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks.
"We played a sound game defensively," Goyings said. "Olivet did not have many chances."
Mailing was credited with five saves and a shutout victory.
Kalamazoo returns to action Saturday, Oct. 19, when the Hornets host the Albion College Britons. The is slated for kickoff at noon.