RIPON, Wis. – In a battle of a pair of one-loss Midwest Conference teams, the Grinnell College women's soccer squad reigned supreme.
 
The Pioneers went wild early, exploding for three goals in the first 25 minutes on their way to a 3-2 win at Ripon College Saturday afternoon. Grinnell is now 4-1 in the MWC for the first time since 2013 and improved to 6-4-1 overall. Ripon dipped to 3-2 in the MWC and 5-7-1 overall.
 
Valencia Alvarez '20, Grinnell's leading scorer, added to that with her fourth goal of the season in the 17th minute. Alvarez, who has 12 goals in her career, kicked it into the right side of the net on Simona Bambi's '20 team-high fourth assist.
 
Jordan Maddaus '19 got into the action just a minute later, scoring her second goal of the season and 10th of her career with a boot into the left side of the net. Hope Nowak '22 recorded her first career assist.
 
Maddaus found the back of the left side of the net again in the 25th minute to make to 3-0. Elyse Salpekar '19 tallied her second assist of the season.
 
That was enough, as Grinnell withstood two second-half Ripon goals to earn the win. Grinnell owned the shots battle 19-9 with 15 shots on goal. Maddaus had five shots for the Pioneers, Alvarez and Thurman four each and Bambi three.
 
Keeper Elizabeth Hunt '21 had another strong outing, posting six saves. The Pioneers remain up north Sunday with a MWC contest at St. Norbert College. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m.