Nov. 2, 2007

Central upset bid ends in shootout

DUBUQUE—Bidding for the biggest upset of the Iowa Conference tournament, the Central College women’s soccer team saw its season end in a shootout following a 1-1 double-overtime semifinal match draw with Wartburg College Friday.

Second-seeded Wartburg (15-3-1) moves on to meet the winner of Friday’s other semifinal with top-seeded Loras College and Luther College.

Sixth-seeded Central closes with a 10-5-3 record for a .638 winning percentage, the highest in the program’s history.

The Dutch, who were edged by Wartburg 2-1 in regular-season play at Pella Oct. 6, made an early run. Midfielder Jenna Hindman (sophomore, Swisher, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) recorded her sixth goal of the season off a pass from midfielder Kristi Klatt (freshman, Cedar Falls) after just 5:14 had elapsed. It was a team-high eighth assist for Klatt, just one shy of Heather Allbee’s school season record set in 1998.

Central was still clinging to a 1-0 advantage early in the second half when the Knights struck in the 58th minute as Amanda Clayton scored on a corner kick with an assist from Lauren Thomas.

Wartburg dominated possession throughout the match, but Central yielded no more scores despite getting outshot 33-6. Wartburg also held a huge 17-0 advantage in corner kicks. But Dutch goalkeeper Michelle Gilbert (senior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) recorded 10 saves.

Following a scoreless overtime, each team was awarded five shots in the shootout to determine who would advance to Saturday’s title match. The outcome was settled after the fourth shot with Wartburg up 3-1.

“It was a gritty defensive performance,” coach Rick Burns said. “We came within penalty kicks of advancing to the conference finals. It’s disappointing when you get that far. But it was a great effort.”

Burns noted that the Dutch started the conference campaign 0-3-1 but in their last six games against league opponents posted a 4-0-2 mark.

“We took some great strides this year,” he said.

Central graduates the school’s all-time leading scorer, forward Tori Rittman (Ankeny), Gilbert and defenders Rose Feldman (Harlan) and Callie Carstens (Urbandale, Valley HS).

“They’ll be tough to replace,” Burns said.

Rittman finished the year with 12 goals and six assists while Gilbert allowed just 1.13 goals per game while making 109 saves in 18 games.

“I was just delighted with the season,” Burns said. “To go from ninth place two years ago, to eighth and now a game away from the tournament final is great. This is a very unique team. They kept finding ways to get the result.”