GRINNELL, Iowa- The Grinnell College women's soccer team held regionally-ranked Simpson College at bay for a good chunk of Wednesday afternoon's non-conference contest at Springer Field.
 
But then the Storm, who are 10th in the region, expanded on a 1-0 halftime lead with a four-goal blitz over a seven-minute period on their way to a 5-2 victory.
 
Despite being outshot 11-5 in the first period, Grinnell's defense limited the Storm to just a solo goal, that coming in the 39th minute. That trend continued until the 55th minute, when Simpson (3-1-1) began its quick spurt.
 
Grinnell (1-4-0) refused to give in, though, as Giada Bambi '25 scored her first collegiate goal in the 71st minute on an assist by Tali Berk '24. On the play, Berk worked her way down the left side of the box and beat her defender, sending a pass in front of the net. The ball slipped out of the hands of Simpson's diving keeper and Bambi collected it and popped a shot into the back of the net from 8 yards out.
 
Fourteen minutes later, Carlie Duus '24 earned a penalty kick on a Simpson hand ball in front of the net. She lined up the shot and fired it in the lower left part of the net past the diving Storm keeper. It was the first collegiate goal for Duus.
 
Grinnell managed nine shots in the game, with Jane March '24 and Samantha Reid '23 taking two each and Keiko Smith '25, Duus, Antarah Chopra '23, Bambi and Francesca Dalla Betta '22 getting one each.
 
Grinnell's starting keeper, Elinor Arneson '23, made five saves in 62 minutes of work before making way for Hannah Malicky '22.
 
Grinnell heads to Decorah on Saturday to meet Luther College in a 3:30 p.m. test.