Event Results:
Central FB beat Illinois Wesleyan 38-13 – 92.1 KRLS
Central Women’s Triathlon finished 3rd at Rhoads McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon
Central Men’s & Women’s Cross Country placed 1st at Les Duke Invitational
Central Volleyball beat Piedmont (Ga.) 3-0 and William Peace 3-2
Central Men’s Soccer tied Grinnell 1-1 and beat Augustana 2-0
Central Women’s Soccer tied North Park (Ill.) 2-2.
Central Women’s Tennis fell to Luther 9-0
Event Recaps:
Central Finishes Third at Michigan Triathlon
In its first full sprint triathlon of the season, the Central College women’s triathlon team finished third at the Rhoads McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon hosted by Calvin University Saturday.
After competing in an exhibition race with shortened distances last Tuesday, the five Dutch women swam 750 meters, biked 20 kilometers and ran five kilometers in a regular sprint triathlon distance race. Central finished with 65 points, trailing the host’s total of 95 points. Luci Laidlaw was the top finisher for the Dutch, crossing the line in 1:18.24. Freshman Addie Smith was right behind Laidlaw in sixth place in 1:18.33. Grace Benson battled her way to a ninth-place effort in a time of 1:21.54. Newcomer Sophie Lunning was 23rd in her first week with the team, clocking in at 1:38.08. Taylor Jones experienced mechanical problems with her bike but rebounded well to place 24th in 1:49.49
Central is off next weekend before traveling to Decatur, Illinois for the Millikin Division III Invitational Saturday, September 23rd.
Central Volleyball Goes Unbeaten in Raleigh Invitational
The Central College volleyball completed an unbeaten run through the Raleigh Invitational Saturday with wins over Piedmont University (Ga.) and William Peace University (N.C.).
The win over William Peace (2-4) was the first time Central (7-1) went more than three sets in a match this season. After dropping the first set 27-25, Central rallied with 25-21 and 25-20 wins in the next two sets. The fourth set was 25-14 drubbing by the Pacers. The Dutch rallied to take the final set 15-12. Gracie Daniels had a team-high 12 kills while both Leslie Snow and middle hitter Emma Wagler had 10. Daniels and Wagler were each on in three blocks. Setter Avery Rexroat had 25 assists, Libero Colleen Kenney had 29 digs and outside hitter Grace Pierson had four service aces.
Central defeated Piedmont 25-21, 25-16, 25-14 in the first game of the day. Daniels had 10 kills in that match while Pierson had eight. Rexroat had 28 assists, Kenney had 15 digs and Sophia Folkerts had three blocks. The Dutch had 14 service aces against the Lions led by four from Rexroat and three apiece from setter Makayla Ribble and defensive specialist Gwen Kahlke.
Central travels to Dubuque for a tournament hosted by Loras College next weekend. The Dutch are set to play St. Olaf College (Minn.) and Monmouth College (Ill.) on Friday and finish the event against Westminster College (Mo.) on Saturday morning.
Dutch Men Salvage Soccer Draw against Grinnell
After yielding an early goal against Grinnell College, the Central College men’s soccer team found an equalizer in the second half to settle for a 1-1 tie Saturday. Grinnell (2-1-1) took advantage of a miscommunication in the Central (2-0-1) defense to score in the seventh minute. Forward Nolan Piedimonte struck for his first collegiate goal in the 50th minute, thanks to a long assist from senior midfielder Solomon Mamola. Goalkeeper John Foster was credited with six saves. Grinnell finished with a slight advantage in shot attempts (12-10) while the two team’s had an exact 50-50 in time of possession.
Dutch Men Pick Up Road Soccer Win
Taking advantage of Augustana College going down a man late in the first half, the Central College men’s soccer team were victorious 2-0 Sunday afternoon.
In the 40th minute, Dutch (3-0-1) defender Spencer Taylor launched a long through ball to Austin DeVilder who was streaking down the center of the park. The Vikings goalkeeper DeVilder clipped outside of the box and was given a straight red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Just four minutes later Central broke the scoreless tie on Alejo Marcon’s goal from the right side of the box. Nathan Kuhlman was credited with an assist. In the 75th minute, Central got a second goal as Zach Holtan scored off a Trysten Vasquez assist. Goalkeeper Ronan Murphy made his debut for Central, making one save in a 90-minute shutout.
Central hosts Dordt University for Senior Day next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Central Races to Men’s Cross Country Title at Grinnell
Packing five runners in the top-10, the Central College men’s cross country team had a dominant day in winning the nine-team Les Duke Invitational Saturday.
The Dutch finished with 29 points, comfortably outdistancing Simpson College, which had 60. Host Grinnell College had 82. In the season’s first 8,000-meter race, Caleb Silver was third in 25:51.73. Noah Jorgenson took fourth in 26:03.47, Adam Sylvia was fifth at 26:14.19, freshman William Wadsley was seventh in 26:30.09 and freshman Donovan Card was seventh in 26:34.10. Central’s other two varsity finishers were Randy Jimenez in 18th at 27:02.98 and Derek Webster in 20th in 27:11.47.
Central is off until the Roy Griak Invitational Sept. 22 at 10 a.m., hosted by the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Central was sixth in a 29-team field at Minneapolis last year.
McMartin, Central Run Away with Women’s Cross Country Crown
Slashing 31 seconds off her time on the same course a year ago, Caroline McMartin and the Central College women’s cross country team raced to victory Saturday at the nine-team Les Duke Invitational.
McMartin traversed the 6,000-meter course in 22:21.67. Central won with 26 points, followed by Simpson College at 60 and host Grinnell College at 70. Teammate Megan Johnson, in her first race since 2021 after missing last year while studying abroad and this season’s Sept. 1 opener with injury, followed in 22:39.87. Addison Parrott was fifth in 23:36.39, 11 seconds better than last year while Lindsey Davidson was eighth in 24:12.47, a mammoth 51-second improvement over a year ago. Leah Bontrager was 11th in 24:31.01, Peyton Steffen was 12th in 24:38.49 and Kira Hooper was 13th in 24:45.82.
Central is off until the Roy Griak Invitational Sept. 22 at Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Dutch were 10th out of 30 teams there last year.
Corner Kick Nets Late Equalizer for Dutch Women’s Soccer Team
After losing its first-half lead, the Central College women’s soccer team scored with less than three minutes remaining on the clock to come away with a 2-2 tie against North Park University (Ill.) Saturday.
Central (2-0-2) got the scoring started exactly 28 minutes into the match when Paige Cahill found Grace Coates for a goal. It’s the third time this season the tandem have combined for a score. The Vikings (1-1-2) flipped the script with scoring tallies in the 50th minute off a corner kick and in the 69th minute after confusion between two Central defenders. Abby Frey lined up for a corner kick in the 88th minute for the team’s ninth corner of the day. This time, Frey found Bridget Lynch on the far post for the equalizer.
Central travels to Augustana College (Ill.) for a Wednesday night match at 6 p.m.
Central Blanked in Women’s Tennis Conference Opener
In its first American Rivers Conference match of the season, the Central College women’s tennis team was defeated 9-0 Saturday afternoon by Luther College.
The Dutch (1-2) have not played since August 28 after two matches this past week were postponed. Alli Kreider (senior, Norwalk) pushed the No. 6 singles match to a third set before falling 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.
The Dutch return home to face Nebraska Wesleyan University at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.