Kalamazoo Improves MIAA Record to 6-3 with 2-1 Win Over Alma College on the Road October 12, 2005

The Kalamazoo College women's soccer team extended its winning streak to 5 games and improved its MIAA record to 6-3 with a 2-1 victory over the Alma College Scots in Alma, Michigan on Wednesday afternoon. The Hornets improve to 7-4-1 overall in 2005, and retain their 3rd Place spot in the MIAA standings. Coming up next, the Hornets will look to avenge an early-season one goal loss to Olivet College when the Comets come to Kalamazoo this coming Saturday 10/15 (12:00pm).

During the first half at Alma, the Hornet team allowed itself to fall into an unattractive display of long ball for most of the period. Alma had changed its lineup since the two teams last met on 9/14, and had moved one of its biggest and strongest attacking players, Chelsey Volant, to the defensive line. It soon became clear that the Scots were attempting to play almost every ball through her, and she then continually launched long balls over the top of Kalamazoo's back line for her teammates to run onto. As a result, the Hornet defenders often found themselves running down balls and then trying to play them out of their end with their backs to the field. That being the case, the Hornets fell into a cycle of giving up multiple throw-ins and playing long balls back toward Alma's end in order to relieve the pressure.

About midway through the half, Kalamazoo began making substitutions with hopes of getting things settled down in the midfield and beginning to play a more possession-oriented game. Junior Colleen Bednar entered the field as a center mid, and sophomore Mara Beverwyk entered as a withdrawn striker, moving freshman Kelly Lepper back into the midfield. Almost immediately, the Hornets began to do a better job of targeting their teammates' feet with the ball, and soon the team finally mounted a few credible attacks. One sequence freed up freshman Sarah Arnosky at the outside midfield position, and she was able to hit a great cross from the flank toward the penalty area. Lepper got on the end of the cross about 10 yards away from the goal, and hit a beautiful full volley on frame that unfortunately went straight toward Alma's goalkeeper, who was able to easily make the save. Soon thereafter, Beverwyk received the ball on the right side of the field about 35 yards out, and played a square pass on the ground to Bednar. Bednar hit a first-time shot that curved slightly and dipped in just under the crossbar, putting the Hornets up 1-0 just before halftime.

"I was definitely happy that we were able to capitalize and get on the scoreboard before halftime," said Head Coach Laura Passage, "but we didn't play particularly well in the first half and there were a lot of things that needed to be cleaned up. The girls knew that we needed to play a more focused game in order to maintain our lead."

Unfortunately, Alma struck before the Hornets were able to completely alter their style of play, and in the 50th minute of play Rachel Dotson scored a scrappy "clean-up" goal for the Scots when a crossed ball was accidentally redirected over K's defensive line to the far right post. From the 6-yard-line, Dotson took one touch and then a shot on the wide-open right side of the goal, knotting the score at one apiece.

"You always hate to see your opponent score a goal," said Coach Passage, "but in truth it was probably the best thing that could have happened. It really lit a fire under our players, and it ended up being the catalyst to us playing a much better second half."

In fact, just under three minutes after Alma's goal, Kelly Lepper got a second chance at her first-half scoring opportunity--and this time, she put it away. In the 53rd minute, sophomore outside midfielder Aubrey Parker hit a great cross into the penalty area, and Lepper once again connected with the ball on a full volley. She rocketed the ball past the Scots' goalkeeper and into the back of the net, leaving most of the stadium open-mouthed while the Kalamazoo bench went wild.

For the remainder of the game, the Hornets seemed a lot calmer and more composed, and did a much better job of moving the ball around the field on the ground. They kept possession for most of the second half, and in doing so, created a few more impressive scoring chances. Arnosky was moved from the midfield back up to her normal forward position about midway through the half, and she almost immediately created two near-breakaway situations for herself--but couldn't capitalize. Sophomore forward Aliza Caplan also earned herself a late-game breakaway, but was fouled hard and taken down at the top of the 18-yard-box, giving the Hornets a great free-kick opportunity that was blocked by Alma's wall. Finally, the minutes ticked away and despite numerous chances, Kalamazoo just couldn't get on the scoreboard again. The game ended with the score at 2-1.

For the day, Kalamazoo held a 15-8 advantage in the shots category, and a 9-6 shots-on-goal advantage. Sophomore goalkeeper Monisha Berkowski posted 5 saves during the game, and Alma's two goalkeepers (Pam McCarthy and Brandi Wright) split halves and posted 2 and 5 saves, respectively.