Britons Secure Important MIAA Win

Britons Secure Important MIAA Win

ALBION, Mich. – With contests against Kalamazoo College and Hope College, the top two teams in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, remaining, Albion College desperately needed a win Wednesday night.

Led by a back line that limited Brianna Russell 's scoring chances, Albion earned a 3-0 victory over Calvin College in driving rain at the Davis Athletic Complex.

Amanda Allen, Alyssa Brooks, Sarah Castellano and Mikenna Ray limited Calvin to two shots on goal as goalkeeper Megan Bricely achieved her second shutout of the season.

"When you have to deal with changes in schedule and short notice, the women took it upon themselves (to be ready)," Head Coach Eric Scott said of the start that was delayed 30 minutes by lightning. "They were not tense. We executed some things. (Assistant Coach Marco Bernardini did a great job of preparing the back line for what was going to happen.  Bri Russell was dangerous and I thought our back line and Megan did a great job of keeping the game in front of them.

"We talked about the importance of every point in the standings going forward," Scott added. "We are at a point in this program where we can look every game and call it winnable. It's up to us to perform the right way and we did that tonight."

First-year student-athlete Riley Burnette and sophomore Haley Kennedy took advantage of the space provided from Calvin's two-man defense with a sweeper and stopper to score the goals. First-year student-athlete Emily Wolford dished out assists on two of the goals.

Burnette, one of three Britons with at least four goals this season, scored for the first time since Albion's 4-1 victory over Olivet on Sept. 24.

"Riley is always prepared and ready to go," Scott said. "We tell her to go on the field and have a little fun and do the things she's good at. She's good on the ball and at connecting the game. She and Emily struck up a good partnership, connecting a couple of passes and getting behind their back line."

Albion will start a full day of Homecoming athletic contests Saturday with an 11 a.m. start against Hope at the Davis Athletic Complex.