Box Score GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College women's soccer team lost a wild back-and-forth contest to St. Norbert College by a 4-3 count Sunday at Springer Field.
The Pioneers led 1-0 at halftime on a goal by
Nicole Sipfle '13 in the 35th minute, her second score of the season. On the play,
Andie Semlow '16 crossed the ball from left to right to Sipfle. Sipfle took a few dribbles and delivered a shot from just outside of the box over the outstretched hands of the keeper and into the net.
St. Norbert came back quickly in the second half, as Katie Vanden Avond scored the first of her three goals in the 49th minute, Elly Weisbusch connected in the 56th minute and Vanden Avond scored a minute later for a 3-1 lead.
Grinnell cut into that margin not even two minutes after that on
Kathryn Vincent's '13 fourth goal of the year. The play began with a free kick from the right side of the field that went into the box on the left side of the goal. A tussle followed and the ball bounced up, which Vincent headed into the right side of the net to make it a 3-2 game.
About five minutes later, Vanden Avond completed her hat trick with a penalty kick on a for a 4-2 Green Knight lead. It was Vanden Avond's 24th goal of the season.
Maddie Gray '16 returned the favor in the 72nd minute after being awarded a penalty kick. She struck the ball into the right corner of the net past the diving keeper to make it 4-3.
Grinnell continued to make several rushes at the goal in the closing minutes, but St. Norbert hung on to improve to 5-1-1 in the Midwest Conference and 10-3-2 overall. Grinnell fell to 6-2 in the league and 6-7-1 in all games.
Grinnell won the shots battle 21-17, with Vincent,
Eva Smith '16 and Gray taking three each and
Patty Murphy-Geiss '14 and
Kristen Stacey '16 taking twp apiece.
Grinnell keeper
Katy Oldach '16 had nine saves on the day.
The Pioneers close out the regular season next weekend, playing a 1:30 p.m. contest at Monmouth College on Saturday and entertaining Ripon College at 11 a.m. Sunday at Springer Field.
