KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College women's soccer team opened up MIAA play at MacKenzie Field against Alma on Wednesday (Sept. 27). After being delayed 24 hours due to a thunderstorm on Tuesday, the Hornets scored quickly and often to upend the Scots 5-1.
"I give the women much credit," said head coach Bryan Goyings. "Returning after a postponement is not easy, and the group was prepared and ready to go."
Kalamazoo made one change to the starting lineup as Erin Somsel joined Elana Mitchell, Maddie Coffman, Ellie Andrews, Savera Rajendra-Nicolucci, Anna Murphy, Holly Bowling, Izzy Kastel, Ruby Hogan, Destiny Garcia, and Amalia Scorsone.
The Hornets started the game with a bang, scoring two goals within five minutes of each other. The first came in the 11th minute as Scorsone received the ball in the middle of the field and slid a pass behind the back line to a streaking Garcia, who defeated the goalkeeper one-on-one for her first goal of the season. The second started with a corner kick on the far side of the box that Coffman collected and passed to the top of the box, where Somsel bent a shot to the top left corner for her first career goal. Alma scored a goal in the 23rd minute to cut the Kalamazoo lead in half as a header from a corner kick barely snuck over the line as a Hornet defender was trying to save it.
Kalamazoo added another two goals before the first half ended, starting with Murphy burying her second penalty kick of the season after a Scots' foul in the box in the 34th minute. Then, with less than four minutes before halftime, Anni Schnell made a pass from midfield on the right side that got past the Alma back line and ended up on the feet of Elle Bernas. With just the goalkeeper in front of her, Bernas shot a ball right past her ear for her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Coach Goyings added, "The early lead was critical, and it was good to see Destiny find the scoresheet today. When our midfield is connecting, we do really well. Anna has been playing well, and it was nice to see her find the goal for her second in as many games."
The rain started falling heavier in the second half, causing play to slow down. In the 64th minute, the Hornets were on a breakaway when an Alma defender committed a hard foul that received an immediate red card, which meant the Scots were playing with 10 for the rest of the game. Kalamazoo took advantage of that in the 83rd minute as McKinley Hanninen forced a turnover deep in Alma's defensive zone, drove towards the net, and slipped a pass from left to right that Miyani Sonera buried for her first career goal. This allowed the Hornets to come away with a four-goal victory.
Mitchell ended the game with one save on two opportunities in limited action. Kalamazoo totaled more shots (21-7), Alma finished with more saves (5-1) and fouls (14-7), and both teams had five corner kicks each.
"Every point is critical in league play. We hope to build momentum from the effort tonight as we face some powerful teams in our next few conference games," said coach Goyings.
Kalamazoo will continue MIAA play with a road game at Albion on Saturday (Sept. 30), beginning at 4 p.m.