Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Jessa Rizzo's (Fremd HS, Palatine, Ill.) left-footed blasted from 20 yards out in the 69th minute Saturday lifted Augustana to a 2-1 win over Calvin at Thorson-Lucken Field. The match was the Vikings' season opener, while the Knights—ranked 24th in the NSCAA preseason poll—dropped to 1-1 on the year.
 
The visitors jumped out in front in the 16th minute, grabbing a 1-0 lead when Paige Capel worked her way through several Augustana defenders on the right side before beating junior Viking keeper Meredith Chew (Paradise Valley HS, Phoenix, Ariz.). That would be all the scoring in the opening stanza as the Knights took their 1-0 lead to the locker room.
 
It took Augustana less than six minutes of second-half play to level the score. Senior Kerri Skotnicki (Waubonsie Valley HS, Aurora, Ill.) lofted a corner from the right side which went through the hands of Calvin keeper Jenna Shelton. Sophomore Hannah Lohmeier (Waunakee HS, Waunakee, Wis.) took advantage, getting a head on it and finding the goal for a 1-1 tie.
 
That set the stage for Rizzo's go-ahead goal 17 minutes later. Junior Kelly Farell (St. Ursula Academy, Sylvania, Ohio) used some nifty ball handling near midfield to get past a Knight defender and pass ahead to Rizzo. The Viking sophomore used a nice crossover to get the ball on her left foot and then blasted a shot from just outside the box that beat Shelton in the upper right corner of the goal.
 
Calvin managed just two shots in the final 21 minutes. One was saved by Chew and the other was blocked as the Vikings ran out the clock for the victory.
 
Chew recorded six saves and picked up the win. Shelton stopped a pair of shots for the Knights. Augustana held the narrowest of advantages in both shots (11-10) and corners (3-2).
 
Next up for Coach Scott Mejia's side is a neutral-site match versus Hiram. The Vikings and Terriers will square off on Friday, September 5 in Kenosha, Wisconsin at 6:00 p.m.