GALESBURG, ILL.— With five starters from the opening game lineup out with injuries, the Central College women's soccer team was vanquished 3-0 Wednesday night at Knox College.
A strenuous five-game stretch over the first nine days of the season resulted in several injuries in the starting lineup. Three Dutch (3-2-1) defenders and two midfielders from the opening game were unavailable for Wednesday's game against the Prairie Fire (3-2-1).
The plethora of absences forced Kobylinski to get creative with his substitutions, including using goalkeeper
LeAnn Grandia (sophomore, West Des Moines, Valley HS) as a field player.
"I'm very pleased with everyone that contributed in their own way today," he said.
An inexperienced group allowed three goals in the first twenty-five minutes of the game but buckled down in the second half to hold Knox scoreless in the second half.
Gabrielle Lillie (senior, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) has started on the back line for Central in all six games but
Jacie Borman (freshman, Eagan, Minn.) and
Bridget Lynch (freshman, Northglenn, Colo., Jefferson Academy) both were forced to play out of position.
"Jacie was our left back and she's been playing up top," Kobylinski said. "Bridget was our right back and she is a midfielder. For them to do it against a quality team like Knox, an NCAA qualifier last year, I can't say enough about them."
In addition to Borman and Lynch,
Maddie McMartin (forward, Grundy Center) was the third freshman to start for the Dutch.
"Those three provided solid minutes today," Kobylinski said.
Central had eight total shots, five of which landed on goal.
Erin Manion (senior, forward, Delafield, Wis., Kettle Moraine HS) had three of the shots on goal.
"Erin was still able to get behind the defense twice," Kobylinski said. "She hit both posts on one of them which was unfortunate. She is so dangerous."
Kobylinski is optimistic that at least some of the players will return for Saturday's home match against Concordia University – Chicago (Ill.) in Pella at 2 p.m.
