Oct. 20, 2007

Late ovetime goal lifts Dutch past Luther

PELLA—A sudden-death goal from forward Tori Rittman (senior, Ankeny) with 2:10 remaining in the second overtime propelled the Central College women’s soccer team to its first-ever victory over Luther College 1-0. The victory guarantees the Dutch a spot in the six-team Iowa Conference tournament for the first time since 2004.  

Despite reaching the conference tournament, head coach Rick Burns is not satisfied.

“Now we don’t just want to go to the conference tournament,” said Burns. “We want to make some noise. We want to get to the final four, at least.”

After 107:50 of scoreless play and a draw seeming imminent, Rittman took a loose ball and hit a shot off one of the goal posts before it rested in the back of the net. 

“More than the wins, I just like the heart we’re showing,” said Burns. “This team plays with a lot of grit.”

Goalkeeper Michelle Gilbert (senior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) notched 10 saves in helping record Central’s fifth shutout of the season.

Burns felt the defense deserved it.

“Jessie Steward (defender, sophomore, Cedar Falls) is playing at a new position and I don’t think she’s made more than five mistakes all year,” said Burns. “She cleans up back there. Our back four has been a strength on this team and I thought before the season that it would be a weakness.”                                                    

The Dutch wrap up the regular season Tuesday, battling Augustana College (Ill.) in a men’s/women’s doubleheader. The men’s game is slated for 2 p.m. with the women’s contest at 4 p.m. The Central women’s squad hasn’t met the Vikings since 2001 and trail in the teams’ all-time series 0-2-1. Augustana took an 11-3-1 record into a Saturday contest with North Park (Ill.) and had won six of its last seven games.