IU Kokomo women’s soccer ends uneven season with 6-9-3 record
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The women of the IU Kokomo Cougars soccer team hosted the IU Columbus Pride on Oct. 22 with nothing but winning in mind. That aggressiveness paid off in a solid performance from the home team, but it did little to avoid a losing season and an early exit from tournament play just days later.
The Cougars handled rival IU Columbus, prevailing 3-1 at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. The first goal came early, with Addison Waller finding the back of the net in the 17th minute. It was her first goal of the season.
The Crimson Pride responded in the 36th minute with a goal by Madison Merritt, though it took two attempts as Cougar goalkeeper Liz Godfrey turned away the first attack. IU Kokomo quickly broke the tie with a goal by Avery Wilson in the 39th minute, her seventh goal of the season. Her scoring kick was assisted by Kaitlyn Swartzendruber.
IU Kokomo continued to apply pressure in the second half, with Madison Balf and Kaiya Money taking aim at the goal. The Cougars eventually added to their lead just past the 60-minute mark with a goal by Swartzendruber, assisted by Waller; her first assist of the season.
The outcome reflected a very aggressive approach by IU Kokomo. The women took 20 shots at the net, eight on goal, including 15 in the first half of play. By comparison, Columbus took just 10 shots, six on goal, over the course of the game. The two teams matched each other in saves, with five each, and in fouls, with six each.
IU Kokomo put a winning tally in the River States Conference standings, improving the 3-2-1 in conference play. Their record improved to 5-8-2 that evening. After the home win, the Cougars traveled to Montgomery, WV, dropping a contest to conference opponent WVU Tech, before returning home on Oct. 29 to finish the regular season with a win against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
IU Kokomo’s season ended with a heart-breaking loss at home in the opening round of its conference tournament, losing a 0-0 game on penalty kicks to Brescia University.
See additional photos from this game, courtesy of Adam Hartsough, on the Lantern’s Facebook page.