Calvin defeats Aquinas 3-0

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Women's Soccer Shuts Out Aquinas 3-0

By Chaz Amidon ’09

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Knights opened their five-game home stand with a win against cross-town rival Aquinas on Wednesday, defeating the Saints in a convincing 3-0 victory where 15th-ranked Calvin netted all of its goals in the
first half.

“It’s always good to come out strong, especially in your first game at home,” said senior sweeper Ashley Bolen. “I thought we did pretty well, seeing it was only our third game of the season.”

Senior Elizabeth Ribbens connected on her first goal of the season nearly 17 minutes in after she fielded a through ball sent from Emily Ottenhoff, beating two Aquinas defenders and dribbling a low liner past Saint goalkeeper Kelsey
Duley.

In the few remaining minutes before halftime, Calvin (2-1-0) was awarded consecutive penalty kicks because of infractions inside the Saints’ box -one aggressive-play call and one hand-ball - which resulted in scores by Ottenhoff
and Carly Prins.

On the defensive end, the Knights allowed only three shots on goal while utilizing two goalkeepers, starter Alyssa Bergsma and her replacement, Kayla Sulzer, in the winning effort.

“Defensively, we’re all getting used to new positions but I think we came together pretty well,” said Bolen.

The Knights will now get a full week’s rest before facing off against #24 University of Chicago next Wednesday at Calvin’s Zuidema Field. Game time will be 4:00 p.m.

WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM RANKED 15th

The Calvin women's soccer team has moved up four spots in the most recent set of Division III Top 25 rankings released by the National Sosccer Coaches Association of America. The Knights are ranked 15th in this week's poll after having been ranked 19th last week.

Calvin opened the 2008 season this past weekend, splitting a pair of games at the Washington University Classic, falling to ninth-ranked Washington 3-2 in overtime on Friday before coming back to defeat Transylvania 1-0 on Saturday.

The complete set of rankings can be found on-line at:
http://www.nscaa.com/seniorRes.php?it=797

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