For the fourth time in her career, Grinnell College women's soccer player Miki Nakamura '10 (left) has been named to the All-Midwest Conference First Team.

Nakamura, a midfielder/forward from Honolulu, Hawaii (Kamehameha), finished among the Pioneers' all-time leaders in points (127), goals (49) and assists (29). This season, she tied a MWC and program record for assists in a game with five in a win over Illinois College. She finished 2009 with six goals, eight assists and 20 points.

Another Pioneer, Laura McElroy '11 (right), was named to the All-MWC Honorable Mention list. McElroy, a keeper from Springfield, Mo. (Glendale), had an .829 save percentage and 1.71 goals against average in conference play this season while posting two shutouts.

League champion Carroll University swept the individual awards, as Cody Callender was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Year, Ashlee Reinke was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year and Jason Bretzman won the Coach of the Year award.
All-Conference Release

The Grinnell College women's soccer team finished off the regular season in style Saturday, as Rachael Koester's '13 (left) hat trick propelled the Pioneers to a 7-1 victory over Knox College during Senior Day at Springer Field.

Dylan O'Donoghue '11 (right) added a pair of goals as Grinnell finished off regular season play at 4-4-1 in the Midwest Conference and 7-10-1 overall. Knox wound up 1-8 in the league and 2-15 overall.

O'Donoghue began the scoring surge in the 12th minute on an unassisted goal, and Koester got the first of her scores in the 42nd minute to make it 2-0 at halftime. The Pioneers really poured it on in the second half, beginning with Frances Leslie '10 scoring in the 48th minute. Just two minutes later, O'Donoghue buried a penalty kick to make it 4-0.

Koester punched in two more goals, one in the 68th minute and the other in the 70th that was assisted by Kathryn Vincent '13 to make it 6-0. Koester now has six goals on the season, second-best on the team.

Grinnell finished off the scoring in the 72nd minute on a goal by Cynthia Dominguez '12 for a 7-0 edge before Knox scored in the 80th minute.

Grinnell won the shots battle 34-12, with Miki Nakamura '10 and Koester taking six apiece, Rachel Weinstein '13 recording five, Leslie four and Dominguez and O'Donoghue three apiece.

Laura McElroy '11 got the win at keeper, recording three saves in 55 minutes before Ingrid Wennerberg '11 finished off the win with three more saves.
Box Score

Grinnell College's women's soccer team suffered a 4-1 loss at Lake Forest College on Saturday.

The hosts took a 2-0 halftime lead and were up 4-0 when Grinnell scored in the 73rd minute on a goal by Dylan O'Donoghue '11 (pictured), her first score of the year. Kathryn Vincent '12 began the sequence when she played a ball in from the left side and sent in a cross. Lake Forest cleared the ball, but O'Donoghue gathered it and delivered a beautiful shot back post past the keeper for the score.

Lake Forest won the shots battle 19-9, with Grinnell getting three of its shots from Frances Leslie '10. Grinnell is now 3-4-1 in the Midwest Conference and 6-10-1 overall, while Lake Forest improved to 4-2 in the league and 9-6 in all games. Laura McElroy '11 played the first 68-plus minutes at goal for Grinnell and recorded eight saves, while Ingrid Wennerberg '11 played the rest of the way.

Grinnell finishes out its regular season next Saturday against Knox College. Game time at Springer Field is 11 a.m.
Box Score

The Grinnell College women's soccer team can go a long way towards securing a berth in the Midwest Conference Tournament when it takes on Lake Forest College on the latter's field Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Pioneers are 3-3-1 in the Midwest Conference and 6-9-1 overall, while Lake Forest enters at 3-2 in league play and 8-6 overall. Grinnell is fourth in the MWC in standings points with 10 and Lake Forest is right behind with nine. The top four teams make the postseason tourney.

Frances Leslie '10 leads Grinnell in goals this season with seven, while Miki Nakamura '10 has six to go along with eight assists, which ranks fourth in the MWC. Laura McElroy '11 has 119 saves, second-best in the conference, to go along with a 3.17 goals against average.

Becky Esrock of Lake Forest ranks third in the league in both points (34) and goals (14), while Lisa Sorensen is fourth in goals (12) and fifth in points (28). Bianca Green ranks second in assists with 11. Keeper Bri Schleibinger is third in goals against average at 1.81.

After the game, Grinnell has just one regular-season contest left when it entertains Knox College at 11 a.m. on Oct. 31.

The Grinnell College women's soccer team fell by a 5-1 count at the of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Wednesday.

The hosts led 3-1 at halftime, including an early 2-0 lead. Grinnell scored in the 19th minute when Frances Leslie '10 found the back of the net. It was her team-high seventh goal of the year. UW-La Crosse added a goal before halftime for the two-goal lead, and scored twice more in the second half.

Grinnell, 6-9-1 overall, got four shots in the game, two from Leslie and two from Kirsten Louthan '12. Keeper Laura McElroy '11 recorded 14 saves. UW-La Crosse improved to 4-10-1 overall.

Grinnell has a big Midwest Conference contest Saturday when it plays at Lake Forest College at 10 a.m. The game will have major implications on the upcoming MWC Tournament. Grinnell then closes out the regular season by hosting Knox College on Oct. 31.
Box Score

With the aid of a strong performance at keeper by Laura McElroy '11 (left), as well as timely scoring by Cynthia Dominguez '13 (right), the Grinnell College women's soccer team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Ripon College at Springer Field.

McElroy turned away eight shots, including several amazing saves, while posting the shutout. Ripon had a strong wind in its favor in the first half, but the Pioneers still kept the game scoreless at halftime. Grinnell broke the tie with a score in the 52nd minute on the goal by Dominguez, her first of her career.

On the play, Rachael Koester '13 came in from the right side and made a pass in front of the goal that was out of the reach of the keeper. Dominguez followed the play back post and delivered the ball into the net for what proved to be the game-winner.

Grinnell outshot the visitors 22-19, with Frances Leslie '10 and Miki Nakamura '10 each taking five shots, Lara Meyer '11 and Kirsten Louthan '12 taking three each and Koester a pair.

The Pioneers are now 3-3-1 in the MWC and 6-8-1 overall, while Ripon dipped to 2-5 in the league and 2-11 in all games. Grinnell steps out of league play Wednesday with a contest at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Game time is 4 p.m.
Box Score

Carroll University, ranked eighth in the North Region, got out to a 4-0 halftime lead on its way to a 4-0 win over Grinnell College in a women's soccer contest Saturday at Springer Field.

Cody Callender had two goals for the winners, who remained unbeaten in the Midwest Conference at 6-0 while moving to 11-1-1 overall. Kendell Uttech and Liz Melcher had the other scores.

Grinnell managed two shots in the game, both by Kirsten Louthan '12. Laura McElroy '11 recorded 18 saves while playing keeper for the Pioneers, who are 2-3-1 in the MWC and 5-8-1 overall.

Grinnell has another home contest Sunday, entertaining Ripon College at 11 a.m.
Box Score

The Grinnell College women's soccer team fought hard, but in the end suffered a 2-1 overtime setback to St. Norbert College on Sunday in De Pere, Wis.

Grinnell, 2-2-1 in the Midwest Conference and 5-7-1 in all contests, has a big weekend approaching when it entertains league leader Carroll University at 11 a.m. this coming Saturday and Ripon College at 11 a.m. the following day. St. Norbert is 4-1 in the MWC and 6-6 overall.

St. Norbert opened the scoring in the 19th minute for a 1-0 halftime lead before Grinnell bounced back in the 67th minute. The goal came from Kirsten Louthan '12 (pictured), who hit a big arching shot that dropped into the back of the net. It was Louthan's fourth goal of the season and was assisted by Mary Ulseth '13.

The contest remained tied through the end of regulation and went to overtime, where Jessica Schadrie scored in the 97th minute to secure the win.

The Pioneers managed six shots in the game, with three coming from Miki Nakamura '10. Grinnell keeper Laura McElroy '11 had four saves.
Box Score

The Grinnell College women's soccer team struck first Saturday, but Lawrence University responded with three unanswered goals as the hosts recorded a 3-1 Midwest Conference victory in Appleton, Wis.

Grinnell's Kathryn Vincent '13 (pictured) opened the scoring in the 16th minute when she found the back of the net off a corner kick. It was her second goal of the year. However, Lawrence's Mallory Koula scored in the 39th minute to make it 1-all at halftime and the Vikings got tallies from Candence Peckham in the 45th minute and Elizabeth Seeley in the 85th minute to round out the scoring.

Grinnell managed 11 shots in the game, with Vincent and Kirsten Louthan '12 taking three apiece and Miki Nakamura '10 a pair. Grinnell keeper Laura McElroy '11 recorded 10 saves.

Grinnell is now 2-1-1 in the MWC and 5-6-1 in all games, while Lawrence improved to 1-3 in the league and 6-4 overall. Grinnell plays St. Norbert College at 11 a.m. Sunday in De Pere, Wis.
Box Score

The Grinnell College women's soccer team plays a pair of key Midwest Conference road contests this weekend, meeting Lawrence University at 11 a.m. Saturday in Appleton, Wis., and then facing St. Norbert College at 11 a.m. Sunday in De Pere, Wis.

Grinnell is 2-0-1 in the league and 5-5-1 overall. Miki Nakamura '10 averages 4.00 points per game in MWC play, which ranks second, is first in assists at 2.00 and sixth in goals at 1.00. Teammate Frances Leslie '10 is fourth in goals per game with 1.33. Keeper Laura McElroy '11 is second in goals against average at 0.37.

Lawrence is 5-4 overall and winless in the conference at 0-3, having lost to Beloit College, Lake Forest College and Carroll University. Mallory Koula has 12 goals and three assists in the team's nine overall contests, while Sarah Ehlinger has eight goals and five assists.

St. Norbert is 4-6 in all contests and 2-1 in the MWC, with wins over Lake Forest and Beloit and a loss to Ripon College. Stephanie Gatyas and Jessica Schadrie are tied for sixth in the league in goals per game at 1.00, while Gatyas is ninth in points per game at 2.33. Keeper Cara Tazioli is fourth in goals against average at 1.33.

Grinnell is home twice next weekend, hosting Carroll at 11 a.m. on Oct. 18 and Ripon at 11 a.m. the next day.

Recently, the Grinnell College women's soccer team participated in its second community outreach event of the semester.

Using the funds raised through the Youth Soccer Clinic, the Pioneers volunteered for Kids Against Hunger and packaged food for those in need. The squad sponsored two teams of 12 individuals.

A huge second half propelled the Grinnell College women's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan Sunday afternoon at Springer Field.

The game was scoreless at halftime, but Kathryn Vincent '13 (pictured) broke that trend when she found the net in the 47th minute. Assists came from Miki Nakamura '10 and Frances Leslie '10, who each headed the ball before Vincent gained control and put the ball in the upper half of the net.

In the 75th minute, Rachael Koester '13 scored on an assist from Dylan O'Donoghue '11. On the play, O'Donoghue crossed the ball in from the left side and worked it to Koester. Grinnell finished off the scoring in the 84th minute as Maia Olsen '11 crossed the ball to Lara Meyer '11, who dribbled in and found the net.

Grinnell outshot the visitors 21-11, with Meyer getting five of the shots, Lauren Cantley '11 taking three and Rachel Weinstein '13, Vincent, Nakamura, Koester and Kirsten Louthan '12 each taking two.

Laura McElroy '11 and Ingrid Wennerberg '11 combined for the shutout at keeper. McElroy had five saves and Wennerberg four.

Grinnell is now 5-5-1 on the season, while Nebraska Wesleyan dipped to 4-5-2. Grinnell takes to the road this coming weekend, playing Lawrence University at Appleton, Wis., at 11 a.m. Saturday and St. Norbert College at 11 a.m. Sunday in De Pere, Wis.
Box Score

Wartburg College, ranked ninth in the nation, got off to a 3-0 halftime lead and defeated the Grinnell College women's team by a 6-1 score Wednesday night in Waverly.

Grinnell, 4-5-1 overall, got its goal in the 70th minute from Rachael Koester' 13 (pictured). The goal was assisted by Kirsten Louthan '12. Besides Koester, others getting shots for Grinnell were Frances Leslie '10, Lara Meyer '11, Miki Nakamura '10 and Louthan. Lauren Thomas and Kaylee Benning each had two goals for Wartburg, which is now 8-0-1.

Grinnell's Laura McElroy '11 played keeper in the first half and had three saves, while Ingrid Wennerberg '11 recorded two saves in the final 45 minutes.

Grinnell returns to home action Sunday when Nebraska Wesleyan University at 3 p.m. at Springer Field.

The Grinnell College women's soccer team struck first, but in the end had to settle for a 1-1 tie with Monmouth College in a Midwest Conference contest Saturday at Springer Field.

Grinnell's score came in the 13th minute from Miki Nakamura '10 (pictured), who boosted her season goal total to six. The assist came from Rachel Weinstein '13. That 1-0 lead held for quite some time before Katie Fluegel scored for Monmouth in the 61st minute. With the score tied at the end of regulation, the teams played a pair of 10-minute overtime periods with neither team scoring.

Grinnell had 12 shots on the day, with five coming from Nakamura, including three on goal. Monmouth had 13 shots, and Grinnell keeper Laura McElroy '11 recorded six saves.

Grinnell is now 2-0-1 in the MWC and 4-4-1 overall, while Monmouth went to 0-0-1 in the league and 1-5-1 overall. The Pioneers travel to Waverly on Wednesday to play Wartburg College. Game time is 7 p.m.
Box Score

After battling host Beloit College to a scoreless tie through virtually all of Sunday's Midwest Conference women's soccer contest, the Grinnell Pioneers showed nerves of steel and scored just in time to pull out a 1-0 victory.

Kirsten Louthan '12 (pictured) found the back of the net with about a minute to go as Grinnell extended its winning streak to three games while improving to 2-0 in the league and 4-4 in all games. Miki Nakamura '10, who Saturday tied the Midwest Conference record for assists in a game with five, had the assist on Louthan's score. It was Louthan's third goal of the season.

Laura McElroy '11 earned the win at keeper for Grinnell and had 11 saves. For the contest, Grinnell outshot the hosts 21-18. Nakamura had five shots, while Lauren Cantley '11, Dylan O'Donoghue '11 and Kathryn Vincent '13 took three apiece. Frances Leslie '10 and Lara Meyer '11 had two shots apiece.

With the setback, Beloit fell to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the MWC. Grinnell returns home to Springer Field on Saturday when Monmouth College visits for an 11 a.m. contest.
Box Score

If there was a perfect way to start the Midwest Conference schedule, the Grinnell College women's soccer team found it Saturday at Springer Field.

Frances Leslie '10 (left) scored four goals, one shy of a school record, and Miki Nakamura '10 (right) tied a program and Midwest Conference record with five assists as the Pioneers rolled over Illinois College 9-1. Nakamura added two goals for the Pioneers, who improved to 3-4 while Illinois College dipped to 1-4-1 overall and 0-1 in the league. Nakamura's assist total tied the mark set by former Pioneer Sofia Skraba in 2005 and Tracy Capes of Ripon College in 1997.

Grinnell broke out to a 4-0 halftime lead as Leslie scored in the seventh and 14th minutes. Nakamura and Kirsten Louthan '12 assisted the first goal and Nakamura had the assist on the second. Lara Meyer '11 added a goal in the 22nd minute on Nakamura's assist and Nakamura scored unassisted in the 24th minute for the halftime edge.

Rachel Weinstein '13 opened the scoring in the second half, finding the net in the 47th minute on Nakamura's assist, and then Leslie scored in the 49th minute on assists from Weinstein and Dylan O'Donoghue '11.

Rachael Koester '13 scored unassisted in the 59th minute before Illinois College got on the board. But Grinnell bounced back, as Nakamura had a goal in the 73rd minute on an assist by Lauren Cantley '11 and Leslie finished off the scoring in the 86th minute on assists by Nakamura and Meyer.

Grinnell outshot the visitors 32-3, with Nakamura firing off eight shots, Louthan seven, Meyer five and Leslie four.

Laura McElroy '11 was the winning goal keeper, working the first half and then being relieved by Ingrid Wennerberg '11. Anna Zimmer had Illinois College's goal.

Grinnell has another MWC contest Sunday, taking on Beloit College on the Buccaneers' field at 11 a.m.
Box Score

The Grinnell College women's soccer team snapped a two-game losing streak Wednesday, recording a 2-1 win against non-conference foe Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

All the scoring took place in the first half. Grinnell's Lara Meyer '11 (pictured) opened the scoring with a goal in the 23rd minute off an assist from Rachel Weinstein '13, but two minutes later Coe tied the contest on Laura Burken's goal.

But Grinnell was not to be denied, as Miki Nakamura '10 scored an unassisted goal in the 36th minute for what proved to be the game-winner. Grinnell fired 11 shots in the game, with Frances Leslie '10, Meyer and Kirsten Louthan '12 taking three each and Nakamura two.

Keeper Laura McElroy '11 worked the first half at keeper to earn the win. She had one save. Ingrid Wennerberg '11 was in goal during the last 45 minutes and worked a shutout while getting five saves. Both Grinnell and Coe are 2-4 on the season.

Grinnell opens Midwest Conference play this weekend, hosting Illinois College at 11 a.m. Saturday and then playing at Beloit College at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Even though losing to Webster University on Sunday, the Grinnell College women's soccer team finished things on a strong note at the Washington University Classic in St. Louis, Mo.

Grinnell spotted the winners a 5-0 halftime lead, but then posted a shutout in the last 45 minutes with Ingrid Wennerberg '11 in goal and also scored twice to finish off the game with a 5-2 setback.

Scoring for Grinnell were Kirsten Louthan '12 and Frances Leslie '10. The box score and complete statistical results had not been reported to the Grinnell Sports Information Office as of Sunday night and will be relayed when available.

Grinnell, 1-4 on the season, travels to Cedar Rapids on Wednesday to take on Coe College of the Iowa Conference. Game time is 5 p.m.

The Grinnell College women's soccer team lost a 10-0 decision to the nationally-ranked host team during the Washington University Classic Saturday night in St. Louis, Mo.

Grinnell, 1-3 on the season, got four shots. Those came from Nicole Sipfle '13, Miki Nakamura '10, Kirsten Louthan '12 and Mary Ulseth '13. Washington, ranked 20th in the nation, outshot Grinnell 34-4. Emma Brown had three goals for the winners, who improved to 3-2.

The Pioneers finish off the event on Sunday with a 2 p.m. contest against Webster.

The Grinnell College women's soccer team was looking to get into the win column Wednesday, and delivered in impressive fashion by shutting down Central College 5-1 at Springer Field.

Lauren Cantley '11 (left) scored two of the Pioneers' goals, including one just 2 minutes, 31 seconds into the game off an assist from Miki Nakamura '10. Nakamura kept things going when she scored at the 21-minute mark on an assist by Lara Meyer '11, and Frances Leslie '10 added another goal in the 39th minute as Grinnell built a 3-0 halftime lead.

The Pioneers, 1-2 on the season, didn't let down from there, though. Kirsten Louthan '12 scored in the 52nd minute on an assist by Kathryn Vincent '13 for a 4-0 edge. Central 0-4, scored in the 87th minute but Grinnell finished in style as Cantley found the back of the net in the last minute of play to secure the 5-1 win.

Laura McElroy '11 (right) was impressive at keeper, coming up with four saves while working the entire contest. Grinnell outshot Central 29-8, with Nakamura taking 11 shots for the winners and Louthan accounting for three. Cynthia Dominguez '12, Cantley, Samantha Bates '12, Leslie and Vincent all had two shots.

Grinnell heads to St. Louis this weekend to compete in the Washington University Classic, taking on the hosts Saturday at 7 p.m. and meeting Webster at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Box Score

The Grinnell College women's soccer team played the University of Dubuque to a scoreless tie in the first half of Saturday's game, but the Spartans rallied with two goals in the last 45 minutes to defeat the Pioneers 2-0 at Springer Field.

Chelsea Kittleson had both goals for the winners, with Sara Fassbinder assisting both. Dubuque outshot Grinnell 16-4, with the Pioneers' shots coming from Rachel Weinstein '13, Lara Meyer '11, Kathryn Hardy '13 and Miki Nakamura '10.

Grinnell's keeper, Laura McElroy '11, recorded eight saves on the day as the Pioneers dipped to 0-2 on the season.

Grinnell will attempt to find the win column Wednesday when Central College of Pella visits for a 5:30 p.m. game.
Box Score

The Grinnell College women's soccer team opened its 2009 campaign at home Tuesday, falling 7-1 to non-conference foe St. Olaf College at Springer Field.

Catie Christoffel recorded a hat trick for the winners, who improved to 1-0 while outshooting the hosts 24-3.

Miki Nakamura '10 (pictured), the Midwest Conference's leading scorer last year, had Grinnell's goal when she connected with just over a minute left in the first half to reduce St. Olaf's lead to 3-1. Nakamura's goal was assisted by Stephanie Rouse '12. Nakamura had two of the Pioneers' shots, while the other was taken by Nicole Sipfle '13. Laura McElroy '11 had 10 saves at keeper for Grinnell.

Grinnell, 0-1, remains at home Saturday when it hosts the University of Dubuque in an 1 p.m. affair.
Box Score

The Grinnell College women's soccer team recently participated in two community outreach events.

For the second year in a row, the Pioneer returnees have helped first-year players move into their dormitories. The other outreach program was to conduct a youth soccer clinic at Ahren's Park.

Thanks to the advertisement of the event through the help of Kelly Rose, director of Grinnell Parks & Recreation, 62 soccer players participated. The event was a fundraiser to help sponsor the Pioneers' participation in Kids Against Hunger (another outreach program) in late September. Thanks to the generous donations of the clinic participants, the team raised $400 that will go directly to Kids Against Hunger.