PELLA—Sophomore striker Erin Manion (Delafield, Wis., Kettle Moraine HS) scored in the first few minutes of both halves to lead the offensive attack for the Central College women's soccer team in a win over Wartburg College Saturday afternoon by a 3-2 margin.
           
Central moves the needle to 9-1-0 overall this season and their mark in Iowa Conference play to 2-0-0. The Knights slipped to 6-4-1 (0-1-1 IIAC) on the year.
           
"It was a back-and-forth game," coach Mike Kobylinski said. "I think we pushed the tempo at times and Wartburg made it rough by pushing the tempo the last 10 minutes."
           
Manion needed just 3:44 in the contest to notch her sixth goal of the year and give the Dutch an early lead. Holding on to a 2-1 lead after halftime, Manion outraced the defense for a loose ball to score the team's third goal of the match and her seventh of the season.
           
"Erin's a special player," Mike Kobylinski said. "She is one of our hardest workers. She is one of the best players in the league as an attacker."                                                                               
           
Midfielder Lauren Vahlkamp (junior, Quincy, Ill., Notre Dame HS) contributed the assist on Manion's first tally.
           
Mikaela Erickson (sophomore, Spring Lake, Mich., Western Michigan Christian HS) provided a dramatic goal first half goal, as the midfielder put the ball in the net's upper corner from 35 yards out.
           
"That was a bomb," Kobylinski said. "She provides a spark off the bench like no other."
           
In addition to her assist on Erickon's goal, midfielder Kallie Holte (senior, Kirksville, Mo.) was crucial on the defensive end.
           
"She did phenomenal," Kobylinski said. "She was man-marking one of their best players and looked great."
           
Defensively, Kobylinski also cited defender Lauren Goeke (junior, Ballwin, Mo., Parkway South HS) as well as goalkeeper Taylor Golt (freshman, Crystal Lake, Prairie Ridge HS) for limiting a the high-powered Wartburg offense to two goals.
           
A road match at Coe College continues the league portion of the schedule as a 5 p.m. match is slated for Wednesday against the Kohawks at 5 p.m.
           
"They are coming off a loss (against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse)," Kobylinski said. "We're playing at their field and they're going to be tough. We think we have a special team to make a special run this year. We're going to be focused on ourselves and what we can do to keep winning.