Another sterling defensive performance propelled Calvin to its 12th shutout victory of the year as the Knights blanked Alma 3-0 Saturday afternoon at rain-swept Scotland Yard. 

Senior Joel Vande Kopple (Grand Rapids Christian HS) scored a pair of first half goals in staking the Knights to a 2-0 halftime lead with junior David Holwerda (Grand Rapids Christian HS) adding an insurance marker midway through the second half. 

VandeKopple now has six goals on the year while Holwerda has seven. All seven of Holwerda's goals have come off the bench. 

Senior Joel Veldhouse (Sioux Falls, SD) picked up two assists on the afternoon while freshman A.J. Dufendach (Forest Hills Northern HS) was also credited with one assist. 

Calvin held a 17-12 shots at goal advantage with goalkeepers Joe Westra (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and Dave Fortosis (Wheaton, IL) combining on the shutout for the Knights with Westra collecting two saves and Fortosis six saves. Westra held down the fort through the first 45 minutes with Fortosis playing the final 45. 

Ranked 14th nationally, Calvin is now 14-1-1 overall and remains three points behind league-leading Hope in the conference standings as the Knights are 9-1-0 in league play while the Flying Dutchmen are 10-0-0. 

Calvin returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Kalamazoo at 4:00 p.m. in a key conference match.