PELLA — Riding a home winning streak that stretches over two years, the Central College women's soccer team is vying for that streak to continue into the Iowa Conference tournament quarterfinals against Luther College Saturday at 1 p.m.
The No. 3-seeded Dutch (14-2-2, 5-1-2 conference) and the No. 6-seeded Norse (7-9, 4-4 conference) are meeting on back-to-back Saturdays after Central took a 1-0 double overtime thriller in Decorah a week ago on a goal by midfielder
Lauren Vahlkamp (junior, Quincy, Ill., Notre Dame HS).
The last time someone beat Central on its home field at A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex was October 17, 2015. Since then, Central has won 17 of 19 matches with two draws. Additionally, in six previous trips to the league tournament under Kobylinski, the Dutch are 3-0 on their home pitch.
Historically, Luther has dominated the series which first started in 1995, with the Norse holding a 19-6-1 advantage over the Dutch. However, since 2011 when Kobylinski took over the program, Central leads the series 5-4-1. In that same time frame, Central has won three of four games contested in Pella.
In 2014, the last postseason meeting between these teams in Pella, Central won a semifinal match 1-0. Senior midfielders
Kalee Findlay (Grimes, Dallas-Center Grimes HS) and
Kallie Holte (freshman, Kirksville, Mo.) as well as defender
Rachel Verhun (senior, Ann Arbor, Mich., Pioneer HS) started for the Dutch that day. Additionally,
Felicia Roppe (senior, midfielder, Council Bluffs, St. Albert HS) came off the bench for Central.
Offensively, striker
Erin Manion (sophomore, Delafield, Wis. Kettle Moraine HS) leads the way for the Dutch with 13 goals and four assists. Holte (eight goals, six assists) and Vahlkamp (seven goals, seven assists) have also provided major offense out of the midfield.
In goal,
Taylor Golt (freshman, Crystal Lake, Ill., Prairie Ridge HS) tied the school record for wins in a single season with a 12-2-2 record. She's only needed to make 29 saves on the season, thanks in large part to the veteran line back line in front of her.
That group includes Verhun,
Kayla Dowell (senior, Cedar Falls),
Jackie Sunderman (senior, Pella) and
Lauryn Kramer (junior, Cedar Falls.
The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to face the University of Dubuque, the No. 2 seed, on Wednesday in Dubuque. Dubuque beat Luther 2-0 on October 24 while the Dutch played the Spartans to a 0-0 draw on October 11.
