The Alma College Women's Soccer competed in the program's first-ever MIAA Championship Saturday on a wet, cold and windy afternoon at Calvin College against the Knights. Alma's memorable 2008 season came to an end as Calvin came away with a 3-0 victory over the Scots.
"Our girls showed a lot of determination and to hold a team of Calvin's caliber scoreless in the first half, really says something and it put us in a good position," said Alma Head Coach Jeff Hosler. "In the second half, Calvin clearly demonstrated their experience in playing games of this magnitude, but our girls played very hard to the end. I believe we come away from this knowing we can compete as an elite MIAA team."
The Scots and the Knights played a scoreless first half as both teams played strong defensively to hold the other team out of the net. Calvin did outshoot the Scots by a margin of ten to one in the half.
In the second half, Calvin showed why they are undefeated in the league this season and the number one defensive team in the league. 6:25 into the final frame, the Knights broke through on a goal by F Carly Prins, assisted by MF Emily Ottenhoff. The game remained 1-0 until Calvin's MF Emily Ribbens shot the ball past Alma GK Katie Weicksel (Northville, MI) at the 58:49 mark. The goal was assisted by Ottenhoff , who fed Ribbens with a pass that led to a breakaway.
The Knights ended the scoring when B Elaine Schnabel took a cross pass from Prins and put it past Weicksel at 80:43 for the 3-0 final score. For the game, Calvin had 15 shots to Alma's one and Weicksel ended up with five saves for the Scots.
Alma finished the season with a record of 12-7-1 (7-3-2 MIAA) while Calvin advances to the NCAA next week with a mark of 17-2-1 (11-0 MIAA) in 2008. The 12 wins is a program-tying best and the second place finish is Alma's highest finish in women's soccer.
The leading scorer for the Scots in 2008 was M Jessica Swan (Romeo, MI) who finished the year with 12 goals and five assists for 29 points. Other notable offensive players include, M Carly Reising (Ottsego, MI), who had seven goals and three assists (17 pts.), M Becky Marton (Williamston, MI), who notched six goals and three helpers (15 pts) and F Tara Fitzsimmons (Marshall, MI), who finished the year with four goals and six assists (14 pts.)
Weicksel played 15 games in goal for the Scots and concluded the season with a 1.26 goals against average. Weicksel was credited with two shutouts while GK Emma Heppler (East Lansing, MI) notched one for the Scots. Heppler played in goal ten games in 2008 and finished the year with a 1.34 goals against average.
Hosler credits the entire defensive unit for their effort in improving the Scots' defense. As a team, Alma finished the season with a 1.30 goals against average and recorded seven total shutouts in 2008.
Today's loss also ended the collegiate career of Alma's lone senior, D Christine Wheatley (Canton, MI). A three-year Team Captain, Wheatley was also named twice to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
"We had a tremendous season and it will go down in the record book as the most successful women's team in Alma history in terms of our place in the conference standings," concluded Hosler. "Most importantly though, was that we improved on a daily basis. I believe the girls have gained the understanding of what it takes to move this program in the right direction."
