Women's soccer team loses to Alma, 4-3

Written by student assistant coach Kori Ramirez, edited by SID Geoff Henson

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's soccer team had a back and forth game which led to a 4-3 loss against the Alma College Scots today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The game started off with possession going on and off between the Scots and Comets. Alma earned a corner kick early which deflected off of an Olivet player and to Alma player who took a touch and pinged the ball in the back corner, putting them up 1-0 in the sixth minute.

The Comets answered quickly though with sophomore Isabelle Leon getting behind the Alma defenders and putting one in far post by the goalkeeper in the 22nd minute. The Comets did a great job of keeping the Alma attack in front and keeping their shots on goal to a minimum.

In the 26th minute of the first half, the Scots had another corner kick which was cleared off and deflected off an Olivet defender and into the goal. This goal put Alma up 2-1 going into halftime.

Olivet did a great job of bouncing back after halftime. The Comets saw their opportunities and put one away when sophomore Emily Reinecke poking one in from outside the 18-yard box into the top, left corner past the goalkeeper.

With the game tied at 2-2, Olivet kept its defense strong with senior Jeanette Fisher holding the back line together and coming up big with tackles. Looking for feet, through balls and possession, the Comets dominated the game. With a cross into the box the ball deflected off an Olivet defender and past senior goalkeeper Deanna Zolnoski to put Alma back on top, 3-2.

In the 71st minute of the game, the Scots got an opportunity to put their last goal of the game away with a corner shot which just made it into the net. With this pressure, a goal came quickly for Olivet, as sophomore Madeline Maxwell put its last goal away. Although the pressure remained high for the rest of the game, the Comets could not answer with another goal to tie the game.

Olivet will be on the road Saturday to play Hope College at noon.