Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin women's soccer team continued its winning ways on Tuesday afternoon, defeating Albion, 1-0. The Knights improve to 11-2-1 on the year and remains in first place in the MIAA at 9-0-1. Albion falls to 7-7 and 5-6 in conference play.
The statistics show that we are getting shots," said head coach Mark Recker. "Holly came up really big in the first half. Albion has some really good strikers, they target really well, they have decent speed and they are good on the ball. But when our team comes and plays as a unit, they are hard to get through. Today we might not have played our best defensive game but it was good enough to achieve the outcome we were looking for."
The first half saw both goalkeepers shine, both keepers made great plays to keep the match tied at zero going into halftime. Senior Holly Ellerbroek (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) made vital save in the 23rd minute to keep Albion off the board from a quick shot from the right side. Calvin outshot Albion in the first half, 11-3.
Junior Brianna Russell (Plainwell, Mich./Delton-Kellogg) broke open the tie in the 65th minute. From a pass from senior Paige Capel (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) Russell snuck the ball past the charging Albion keeper to the left side of the net. The goal is the third of the year for Russell. Capel picked up her team-leading fourth assist of the year.
"I thought Breezy (Brianna Russell) did a fabulous job of fighting off," said Recker. "Same with Paige winning the ball and assisting in getting the combination to allow Breezy to slide in and score the goal."
The Knights continued to attack the Albion net with shots from freshman Mackenna Nesky (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) and senior Sydney Kinney (Ada, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian).
Holly Ellerbroek finished the match recording a save in the final minute from a shot from Alyssa Brooks.
"She increases the confidence level of the defense," said Recker. "When they are confident in their goalie they she can make a fantastic save like that, then they become a little more aggressive and challenging, which applies more pressure on the opposing offenses."
The Calvin defense picked up the seventh shutout of the year on Tuesday. The Knights have not allowed a goal in the last 359 minutes of play going all the way back to Sept. 29.
Calvin outshot Albion on Tuesday, 17-9.
The Knights return to action on Saturday as Calvin travels to Kalamazoo. The action is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. against the Hornets.
