<./Denver, Colo./Denver School of the Arts) tallied a first-half equalizer, but the Carleton College women’s soccer squad eventually absorbed a 2-1 setback to visiting No. 22 Luther College.
“I was very proud of the way we moved the ball today,” said Carleton head coach Jocelyn Keller. “Our flank players had a great deal of success, and problem solving was great today for the Knights. We could have gone without a few balls off the crossbar, and that would have changed the game. We know we can compete offensively and defensively with a top opponent in the region.”
Luther (8-0-0) drew first blood in the twelfth minute. Forward Melissa Chasse sent a ball floating across the field from the right, and Elly Arend headed it home.
The Knights, however, hit back two minutes later. Guy captured a loose ball outside the box and sent it sailing over the goalie’s head for her first goal of the season and tying the match at 1-1.
Norse and Knights dueled back and forth for the next 10-plus minutes, trading shots at the goal. Then, in the 27th minute, Arend struck again, chipping a loose ball near the goal line past Coulombe to put the Norse up once more.
Shortly before halftime, Bailey Ulbricht (Sr./Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) nearly knotted the score again as her shot ricocheted off the cross bar.
For the remainder of the game, action surged from side to side as Luther and Carleton fought to put another one away – to no avail. Mikayla Coulombe (Jr./Crystal, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s) kept the Knights close, registering eight saves.
Carleton returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m., when the Knights hit the road to face off against fellow MIAC member Bethel University.