PELLA — Simpson College held on to a 2-0 halftime lead to defeat the Central College women's soccer team 2-1 Wednesday night.
           
The Dutch (7-3-1, 1-1-0 American Rivers Conference) yielded a pair of first-half goals against the Storm (7-4-1, 1-1-0) to put themselves in an early deficit.
           
"Simpson came out really solid," coach Mike Kobylinski said. "They put us on our heels in the first 18 minutes and shell-shocked us a bit. We haven't had to play from behind too much this year so that challenged us in a different way."
           
Central pulled within one in the 69th minute on Grace Coates's (freshman, forward, Marion) seventh goal of the year. Alyssa Knuth (junior, defender, Benton Harbor, Mich., St. Joseph HS) played it into Coates for the assist.
           
"Grace hit a pill of a shot," Kobylinski said. "She got it played in from Alyssa and made a brilliant shot."  
           
Three other Central shots were saved in the second half and an additional attempt went off the frame of the post in the 63rd minute.
           
"Abby Frey (sophomore, midfielder, Mesa, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS) had a set piece that was one of the hardest hit shots I've ever seen," Kobylinski said. "That would have turned the game on its head."
           
Goalkeeper Jasmyn Bush (sophomore, La Porte City, Union HS) made five saves in a losing effort.
           
Central hosts Loras College Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
           
"Tonight was probably a fair result," Kobylinski said. "We'll be back it again on Saturday."