Kelli Hancock Oct. 17, 2007

Hancock keys important win for Central

PELLA--The Central College women’s soccer team was able to overcome a saturated field, a torrential downpour and a Coe College lead to notch a key 2-1 Iowa Conference victory Wednesday.  

Forward Kelli Hancock (sophomore, Cedar Falls) provided the Dutch with an assist and the game-winning goal to significantly strengthen Central’s bid to qualify for the six-team conference tournament. The Dutch are in sixth place with one league game remaining.

“Kelli was the woman of the match,” said head coach Rick Burns. “She was fighting the whole match and gave us a great hustle goal.”

Central (8-4-2 overall, 2-3-2 conference) outshot Coe 17-2 but was forced to fight back after conceding a Kristen Carpenter goal 31:51 into the match. The Dutch equalized when midfielder Sarah Frese (junior, Marshalltown) drove in a goal off a Hancock assist 19:01 into the second half.

“Sara scored a great goal,” said Burns. “It was a sloppy game with the conditions. We fought back which I am very proud of."

With the potential of a weather-related cancellation looming, Central produced the game winner when Hancock took an assist from forward Tori Rittman (senior, Ankeny HS) to score her eighth goal with 2:32 remaining. The loss drops Coe to 3-10-1 overall and 0-6 in the conference.

“This puts us in great shape now to qualify for the tournament,” said Burns. “It was nice to win a close conference match.”

The Dutch are back on the field Saturday at 1 p.m. for a critical home match against Luther College. It’s Senior Day as Central will honor the careers of: Rittman, Steph Ellwanger (midfielder, Indianola), Michelle Gilbert (goalkeeper, West Des Moines, Valley HS) April Feldman (defender, Harlan), and Callie Carstens (defender, Urbandale, Valley HS).