Storm unable to complete late rally attempt

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Simpson College women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 setback at Augustana, Wednesday, at Thorson-Lucken Field.

After a slow beginning to the game, the Vikings (4-2) struck first. Carson Kekelik showed good dribbling skill, getting into the box and cutting the ball back to Kayla Garcia, whose one-time finish made it 1-0 in the 13th minute.

The goal seemed to awaken the Storm (2-3-1), with Cassie Nash routinely causing problems down the right-hand side. She produced two dangerous crosses in a short span, with the second falling at the feet of Brissa Valadez, who curled a left-footer narrowly wide in the 25th minute.

Simpson continued to press, seeing the vast majority of the ball and getting into good areas. After the Storm were awarded a free kick just outside the center of the box, junior Julia Wagoner's attempt was well-saved by a diving Janey Castoe.

However, the Vikings doubled their lead just two minutes later, completely against the run of play. Samira Khobdeh's corner kick went directly into the Storm net, untouched, to put the Vikings up 2-0.

The Storm continued their dominance of the first half, with Alexis Ponce grazing the crossbar on a free kick that was in a similar position to Wagoner's. The end of the half summed it all up, with the ball just not crossing the line for the Storm. Following a corner kick, the ball found its way to Anna Sharp unmarked on the back post, but Castoe sprawled across the goal line and denied the Storm in incredible fashion to keep the score 2-0 at halftime.

To open the second half, Lani Mears came up with a huge save, denying a Vikings player in 1v1 fashion. Following that chance, Simpson resumed its control of the game, with Sharp seeing her goal-bound shot blocked by a defender around eight yards from goal. Sharp continued to be a huge bright spot for the Storm, as her delicious cross almost forced an Augustana own goal, with Nash's follow up hitting the side netting from extremely close range.

The Storm finally got on the board via the penalty spot in the 62nd minute. Unsurprisingly, the play was made by Nash, who ran about 70 yards from her own half, beating two Viking defenders and then getting taken down. Junior Hailey Kowzan stepped up and calmly dispatched the penalty for her first goal of the season.

The Storm's hard work was almost undone immediately after, with Augustana hitting the post. The Storm responded with Sharp's tight-angeled shot going high in the 83rd minute. The best remaining chance for the Storm occurred with just two minutes to go. Nash controlled a difficult ball, playing a half-volley pass to Lizzie Arnberg, whose first time effort went narrowly wide.

Despite outshooting the Vikings 27-6 and having the vast majority of possession, the Storm could not find their equalizer.

In its next match, Simpson returns home for the first time since the season opener, against Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Saturday, 1 P.M.