NAPERVILLE, Il. – Calvin dropped a 4-2 decision at North Central College Wednesday night.
The two sides combined for five goals in the first half including a pair of goals in the opening two minutes.
North Central led 3-2 at halftime and came up with the clinching goal in the 58
th minute, heading in a corner kick to take control of the game and eventually move on for the win.
Calvin struck first just 1:16 into the match as freshman
Olivia Rawls (Geneva, Il./Geneva HS) scored off a feed from junior
Elie Farrell (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton Warrenville South HS).
The lead was short-lived as North Central scored just 28 seconds later to knot the score 1-1.
Calvin was then whistled for a defensive foul just outside the 18-yard box in the 18
th minute of play and North Central made good on the chance, blasting home a free kick to take a 2-1 lead.
Yazmin Martinez then scored unassisted in the 30
th minute to put the host Cardinals up 3-1 but Calvin senior
Sophie Mueller (Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon HS) countered with her own unassisted goal one minute later to make it 3-2.
Calvin threatened to level the score over the final minutes of the first half but could not break through.
The Knights pressed early in the second half but North Central gained a corner kick and scored off the set piece, redirecting a header through traffic to make it a two-goal game.
The contest featured a wealth off offensive chances for both teams with Calvin outshooting North Central 24-23.
Senior
Kalex Dodge (Jackson, Mich./Leslie HS) had six saves in goal for Calvin.
COACHES COMMENT: "This was a game that went exactly how we expected with a lot of goals and very physical play," said Calvin women's soccer coach
Emily Ottenhoff. "We're disappointed with the result but know that North Central is one of the top teams in the region and we'll have to be more clinical in the final third to keep the game within reach. We'll have to regroup to be ready to compete with one of the best in the country on Saturday."
Calvin returns to action on Saturday, hosting the University of Chicago at 1 p.m. at Zuidema Field.