GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin University women's soccer team opened the 2024 season at Zuidema Field as it welcomed the Scarlet Hawks of Illinois Institute of Technology. After an explosive first half the Knights surged forward to claim the 4-0 victory.
 
In the nineteenth minute, the Knights saw their first real scoring opportunity as a hand ball by an Illinois Tech defender resulted in a penalty kick opportunity. Junior Mia Judd (Grand Ledge, Mich./Lansing Christian) rose to the occasion as she put the ball into the back of the net to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
 
In the thirty-sixth, freshman Olivia Rawls (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) received the ball at the top of the eighteen-yard box and turned to face the goal. As a Hawk defender crashed towards her Rawls slipped it through to a waiting Sophie Mueller (North Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon) who expertly slotted a shot into the lower left-hand corner to extend the Knights lead. 
 
Just twelve minutes later, the Knights continued to exert their dominance as Rawls once again found the ball at her feet just outside the eighteen. With numbers forward in Calvin's favor, Rawls sent the ball across the middle to junior C.C. McCarthy (Ypsilanti, Mich./Father Gabriel Richard) who flicked it onward to Mueller. After a quick first touch, Mueller sent the ball past the diving Hawks goalkeeper to record her second goal of the evening and make the score 3-0.
 
The Knights kept their foot on the gas as senior Lindsey Houtsma (Grandville, Mich./Calvin Christian) got in on the scoring action off an assist from freshman Nora Kucinski (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern) in the final seconds of the half. 
 
In the second half both teams locked in on defense as scoring chances were kept to a minimum. Senior goalkeeper Kalex Dodge (Leslie, Mich./Leslie) and the rest of the Calvin backline only allowed the Hawks to get off 11 shots the whole game and when the final whistle blew, they recorded their first shutout of the season in the 4-0 victory.
 
Calvin recorded thirteen shots during the match with six of them being on frame. Dodge recorded four saves while sophomore goalkeeper Jorja Jenema (Williamsburg, Mich./Elk Rapids), who entered the game in the eighty-third minute also picked up a save.
 
COACHES COMMENT: "It's great to get a win to start the season," said head coach Emily Ottenhoff. "We were very efficient in attack in the first half which is exactly what we ask of our team. We're excited for another opportunity to compete tomorrow."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow as opening weekend continues against Heidelberg at Zuidema Field. Kickoff is set for 4:30 P.M.