CEDAR RAPIDS—The Central College women's soccer team was unable to hold on to a 2-1 lead in the second half Tuesday, falling by a 3-2 margin against Mount Mercy University.
The defeat drops the previously undefeated Dutch to 4-1 and the Mustangs moved to 5-1.
"We came up short today," coach
Mike Kobylinski said. "It was a shame we couldn't hold on to the lead, but that's what happens in soccer. We learned more out of this loss than you can sometimes learn in win."
It took midfielder
Kallie Holte (senior, Kirksville, Mo.) just under six minutes to find the back of the net in the first half. Holte notched her third goal of the year using an assist from fellow midfielder
Olivia Denham (junior, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS).
"Kallie had a very nice finish," Kobylinski said.
Midfielder
Caitlyn Champ (junior, Kearney, Mo.) helped Central retake the lead in the 52nd minute with her unassisted effort.
"Caitlyn had a beautiful goal," Kobylinski said. "She was a difference-maker in this game with a pair of sublime passes."
The Mustangs got the equalizer just one minute and 35 seconds to make it 2-2. A third goal in the 73rd minute by Mount Mercy proved the difference as Central was unable to match the tally.
"Credit to Mount Mercy, they are a very good team," Kobylinski said. "They showed a lot of grit and were very deserving of the win."
Kobylinski was impressed by the versatile performance of midfielder
Kalee Findlay (senior, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS). He also cited defender
Kayla Dowell (senior, Cedar Falls) and midfielder
Lauren Vahlkamp (junior, Quincy, Ill., Notre Dame HS)
"Kalee played her game in a Central uniform," he said. "She was a leader and played two positions and played them very well."
A two-game road swing this weekend starts Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. The second end of the back-to-back takes place Saturday at 6 p.m. in Fulton, Missouri against Westminster College (Mo.).
"We'll regroup this week," Kobylinski said "We'll be ready to go this weekend."
