WAVERLY — Squaring off with the team atop the American Rivers Conference standings, the Central College women's soccer team gave Wartburg College all it could in a 1-0 defeat Saturday.
           
The Knights (6-0-0, 6-0-0 conference) were averaging nearly four goals a game but a stifling Dutch (1-4-0, 1-4-0 conference) defense held the home team to just one tally.
              
"I think our whole team played well," coach Mike Kobylinski said. "It was such a team effort. The defenders and goalkeepers were top-notch but everybody in front of them as well as the players off the bench were spot on."
           
Goalkeeper Jasmyn Bush (freshman, La Porte City, Union HS) had nine saves in the loss, including seven in the second half. Defenders Alyssa Knuth (sophomore, St. Joseph, Mich.), Sydney Canney (junior, Adel, ADM HS), Bridget Lynch (junior, Northglenn, Colo., Jefferson Academy) and Maddi Fisher (freshman, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) played the full 90 minutes in the back row.
           
"She was cool as a cucumber back there," Kobylinski said.
           
The Dutch had eight total shot attempts, led by four from midfielder Abby Frey (freshman, Mesa, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS). Frey put two of her attempts on frame.
           
Central plays at Buena Vista University Wednesday night at 5 p.m.
           
"It would have been nice to get a win or a draw, but our 90-minute effort was outstanding," Kobylinski said. "We've got a good match coming up against Buena Vista and we've got some things to play for still."