RICHMOND, Ind. – The Alma College women's soccer team opened a new era under Head Coach Sam Sibilski on Friday, August 29th, beginning their 2025 campaign on the road against Earlham College. The Scots scored early and never looked back, taking game one of the season by a final score of 3-0, earning Sibilski's first win at Alma. For the first time since 2022, the women's soccer program will start the season off on a winning note, moving to 1-0.
The Scots opened the scoring for the season quickly as it only took a minute and forty-five seconds coming from a corner kick. Brenna Rohloff sent a ball into the box from the corner, bouncing around between players before eventually tracking towards the back of the net coming off a Quakers player to put Alma on the board first. Alma did not let up on the gas after they scored as they kept the offensive pressure on looking for more opportunities. Less than five minutes later, coming from a throw in near the corner, Allyson Harvey was able to direct a bouncing ball in towards the goal for freshman Cecelia Scaife to tap in and put the Scots up 2-0, scoring her first goal of her collegiate career. Returning to action with a 2-0 lead, the game started to settle down as both teams gathered their footing and relaxed from the first game nerves. Both teams would put shots on net throughout a majority of the next 35 minutes, as Earlham looked to cut into the deficit and Alma looked to add more insurance. The Scots would do just that with just under two minutes remaining in the first half as Hannah Meyer found Hannah Abner racing down the field where she was able to cross a ball towards the center of the net that bounced off the goalkeeper and Maddie Smith was there to clean it up and tap it in for the Scots third and final goal of the half. At the half, Alma out shot Earlham 10-4, with nine of those being on goal compared to the Quakers two.
The second half proved to be much more settled down and controlled game from both sides as neither team added a tally for the rest of the contest. Earlham found several chances in the latter half, but Mya Pofahl stood tall in the net, keeping the Quakers scoreless for the full duration. Pofahl made three saves in her shutout victory, collecting her second career win.
Smith and Scaife collected their first goals of the season along with Harvey notching her first assist of the year. Scaife also led the team with three shots on goal in the contest along with five other players tying for one shot apiece.
Alma will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, August 30th, as they will travel to Ohio to face off against The College of Wooster. Game time is set for 2:00 PM.
