Sept. 23, 2006

Bulldogs stun Hope, 1-0
House shines as Adrian wins MIAA opener

By Ed Patino, Sports Information Assistant

ADRIAN, Mich. --- No one beat the house as the Adrian College women’s soccer team posted one of its biggest victories in recent history.

Freshman goalkeeper Amanda House made 10 saves in goal and backstopped the Bulldogs to a 1-0 victory over the Hope College Flying Dutch before a spirited crowd at the Adrian College Performance Stadium.

Adrian (3-5, 1-0 MIAA) defeated the Dutch for the first time since Sept. 24, 2002. Hope (2-5-1, 0-1 MIAA) won the previous seven meetings, all by shutout.

Cody McDonald provided the lone goal of the day midway through the first half. At the 19:08 mark, McDonald corralled the ball near the left sideline and sent a shot from 15 yards out. The ball sailed over Hope goalkeeper Holly Nestle, giving Adrian a 1-0 lead.

The Dutch carried the play for the rest of the half, but House stall tall. The freshman made a diving stop on Sarah Sosolik’s breakaway minutes after McDonald’s goal. Late in the half, Adrian’s Lindsay Chitwood nearly extended the Bulldogs’ lead, but ringed her shot off the post.

The Bulldogs came out flying in the second half, but Nestle and the Dutch defense prevented further damage. House preserved the win as the Dutch pressed in the final 15 minutes. With just under 10 minutes remaining House stopped a hard shot by Sarah Cochrane, then denied Sosolik’s chance on the rebound.

For the game, Hope outshot the Bulldogs 16-10. Chitwood had a game-high seven shots to lead Adrian.

Nestle recorded four saves in goal for Hope. Sosolik, Cassie Thomas and Allison VanBeek each had four shots for the Dutch.

The Bulldogs return to action Sept. 27 when they host cross-town rival Siena Heights University at 7 p.m.