Grinnell Tops St. Norbert in Battle for MWC Lead

From Sports Information Director, October 11, 2008 | Women's Soccer
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead en route to a 4-2 win over St. Norbert College in a Midwest Conference match at Springer Field.

The Pioneers now lead the Midwest Conference with a 4-0 record and are 11-1 overall. St. Norbert fell to 7-6-1 overall and 4-1 in the MWC.

Grinnell jumped ahead when Gabi Maldonado-Bell scored at 27:59. The Pioneers added another score nearly five minutes later when St. Norbert knocked in an own goal. Grinnell took a 3-0 advantage at 38:09 on a Sydney Stoker marker.

The Green Knights would charge their way back into the match midway through the second half. Katherine Larson scored unassisted at 67:49 for her third goal of the season. Jessica Schadrie's goal at 76:51, her 14th of the year, pulled St. Norbert to within 3-2. But Grinnell salted the game away when Katherine Ni scored with just under three minutes remaining.

Grinnell outshot St. Norbert 19-17 but Grinnell had a 5-1 corner-kick advantage.

Laura McElroy made nine saves for Grinnell, while Mallory Ford made four stops for St. Norbert.