It may not have been as long a wait as what the Boston Red Sox had to endure but it was a wait that had been long enough for the Calvin men's soccer team. 

For the first time since 1987, the Knights are the outright MIAA champions and for the first time since 1991, the Knights are headed to the NCAA III Tournament. 

Calvin (18-1-1 overall, 13-1-0 MIAA) gained the MIAA crown and the NCAA III Tournament bid with a pulse-pounding 1-0 victory over rival Hope Saturday afternoon in front of an overflow crowd of 2,000 fans at Calvin Field. 

The only goal of the game came with just 3:45 left in regulation as senior Joel Vande Kopple (Grand Rapids Christian HS) was able to head in a pass from former high school teammate Kurt Visker (Grand Rapids Christian HS) in a crowded goalmouth. Visker's pass was also a header that left Vande Kopple was able to collect out of the air and redirect into an open net. 

The goal was the seventh of the year for Vande Kopple including his fourth game-winning tally. The winning score also sent an already frenzied crowd into a fever pitch. 

"It was amazing," said Vande Kopple. "I just saw the ball roll into the net and I lost my mind. I went crazy." 

The Knights were then able to hold off the Flying Dutchmen (15-5-0 overall, 12-2-0 MIAA) in the final minutes to gain their school record 15th shutout victory of the year. The final Calvin defensive stand included a clutch save by junior goalkeeper Joe Westra (Grand Rapids Christian HS) with 1:30 left on the clock off a 20-yard rip by Hope junior Geoff Meyer. 

With the shutout, Calvin also established a new MIAA record for fewest goals allowed in a conference season as the Knights allowed just one goal, breaking the previous record of three goals given up by Kalamazoo's 2001 team.  

"The defense came through once again today," said Calvin men's soccer coach Chris Hughes. "I'm so happy for this group of guys. I know how badly they wanted this (championship). I also tip my cap to Hope. They are a fantastic team and forced us to play our very best. I thought the caliber of play today was outstanding by both teams. It felt like an NCAA III Tournament game." 

Unlike its previous game against Hope this year * a 1-0 loss on October 12 * Calvin created offensive scoring chances from the outset with quick ball movement and quality runs through the seams of the defense.  

Calvin outshot Hope 11-7 in the first half and would have taken a halftime lead if not for some stellar goaltending from Hope keeper Kevin Butterfield. Butterfield robbed Calvin senior Joel Veldhouse (Sioux Falls, SD) on a shot in the box 11 minutes into the match and then closed the angle on a 20-yard blast by Vande Kopple in the 24th minute that just sailed wide.  

Westra was forced to come up with a key save on a blast by Hope's Dan Tresslar in the 36th minute as he blocked spinning rip, allowing the Calvin defense to clear the ball out of danger. 

Veldhouse would finish the match with 11 shots at goal, many of which just missed. Veldhouse nearly gave the Knights a 1-0 lead with a 25-yard blast in the 80th minute that skimmed the top of the crossbar. 

Hope's best chance of the second half came eight minutes in with Meyer sneaking behind a Calvin defender off a restart and heading a ball that just sailed wide of the far post. 

The game-winning goal was set up by a free kick by Veldhouse from the 22-yard line that was initially blocked but then sent back into the goalmouth with Visker heading the ball from right-to-left to the head of VandeKopple. 

"It just feels so good," said VandeKopple. "During my career, we've struggled to get over the hump in some of the big games. Now that frustration just flew right out the window." 

Veldhouse was a witness to VandeKopple's winning tally and described the winning play. "I couldn't catch my breath for a minute after it happened," said Veldhouse who transferred to Calvin from Creighton University three years ago. "I've been playing soccer since I was five and I can't remember a better feeling than this. It's unbelievable." 

Calvin finished the game with a 22-11 shots at goal advantage including an 11-4 advantage in the second half when the Knights had the wind at their backs. Westra picked up four saves in goal in lowering his season goals-against-average to 0.34. 

Veldhouse also finished the MIAA season with 40 points in conference play, allowing him to capture his second MIAA scoring title in three years. 

The MIAA title is Calvin's 17th overall in men's soccer. Calvin will also be making its fifth overall appearance in the NCAA III Tournament.