KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College women's soccer team continued MIAA play by returning to MacKenzie Field to play Trine on Tuesday (Oct. 10). The Hornets improved to 2-1-1 in conference play following a 2-0 win over the Thunder, extending their shutout streak to 195 minutes.
The starting lineup stayed the same for the second straight game with Elana Mitchell, Maddie Coffman, Olivia DePauli, Savera Rajendra-Nicolucci, Anna Murphy, Holly Bowling, Izzy Kastel, Ruby Hogan, Erin Somsel, Destiny Garcia, and Amalia Scorsone.
"I thought we had a good rhythm to start the game, but Trine had a strong game plan and did well to create opportunities off turnovers," said Head Coach Bryan Goyings. "We did well when we could put their back line under pressure."
Kalamazoo moved the ball well in the midfield and offensive zone to possess the ball for the better half of the first 30 minutes. Because of this, the Hornets held a shot advantage at halftime. For the last 15 minutes before the break, the back line was tested and only allowed one shot from the Thunder offense. However, the game went into the half tied at zero.
Trine continued to put the pressure on in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Slowly but surely, Kalamazoo settled back in and started putting some shots on goal. In the 65th minute, Bowling played a cross from left to right that Garcia flicked to Scorsone from the back post. Scorsone buried her second goal of the season in the right corner as Bowling and Garcia were credited with assists. Less than two minutes later, Callie Abair scored her first career goal as a Hornet after coming on as a sub following the first goal. On another cross, Hogan's header hit the crossbar, Elle Bernas' head was saved, and another shot was blocked before Abair got her foot on the ball in a scrum and pushed it into the lower right corner. The defense held up for its second consecutive shutout.
Coach Goyings added, "On the first goal, Holly had a great run and serve from the wing, which Destiny could redirect, and Amalia displayed excellent composure on the finish. Finding a second goal within 90 seconds of the first one really put us in a grand position for the final 20 minutes. The team showed great fight on a scrum in the goal area, and it was nice to see Callie record her first collegiate goal."
Mitchell made all three saves for her fifth clean sheet on the season. Kalamazoo totaled more shots (14-5), corner kicks (6-4), and fouls (14-8), while Trine finished with more saves (7-3).
"The previous two games, the back line has done well limiting opponents' chances. Credit to the defenders and Elana for a second consecutive shutout. Trine made us earn all three points tonight, and we expect another challenging MIAA match against Saint Mary's," said coach Goyings.
Kalamazoo will continue MIAA play by staying at MacKenzie Field on Saturday (Oct. 14) and hosting Saint Mary's, beginning at 12 p.m.