Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin women's soccer team opened the NCAA Tournament with a 3-2 win over MSOE on a cold Friday at Zuidema Field. The Knights improved to 19-2-2 on the year with the win. The Raiders of MSOE finish the year at 15-7-0.
"We were well aware of their recent history of coming from behind," said head coach Mark Recker. "Especially in their final vs. Aurora. I feel at times when you come out and score early like we did you can turn off a little bit mentally and I thought we did. We gave up a quick counter attack goal. Still this isn't a team that doesn't stop, they regrouped at halftime and they really came after it in the second half and worked as a complete unit."
Senior Taylor TenHarmsel (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) got the Knights on the board first in the 11th minute. TenHarmsel chipped the ball over the keepers head from eight yard out. Junior Carly Veenstra (North Haledon, N.J./Eastern Christian) was credited with an assist.
The goal celebration would be short lived, the Raiders evened the match 51 seconds later with a goal from Tori St. Martin.
The two teams would go into the half tied at one.
It only took two minutes for the Knights to strike in the second half, Carly Veenstra snuck the ball into the net off of a cross into the box from the right side from senior Paige Capel (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) had an assist on the play
In the 58th minute, Paige Capel tallied her team-leading 17th goal of the year. Capel shot the ball from inside the 18-yard box to the far post.
The Raiders would make things interesting, cutting into the Calvin lead in the 86th minute. Maria Schumacher had the ball bounce off the post and into the back of the net.
The Calvin defense stepped up and was able to maintain the ball in the snow and freezing rain for the final four minutes to secure the victory for Calvin.
Senior Holly Ellerbroek (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) came up with three big saves in the victory.
Calvin outshot MSOE in the match, 25-10.
The Knights will host DePauw on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Zuidema Field.
