A mid-season showdown for first place in the MIAA standings is set and once again, Calvin and Hope will battle it out for first place. Both teams improved to 5-0 in league play with shutout victories Wednesday afternoon with Calvin topping Olivet 3-0 and Hope defeating Kalamazoo 8-0. 

The two rivals will meet on Saturday at Calvin Field at 2:00 p.m. The game will match a pair of nationally-ranked teams as Calvin will enter the match ranked 13th nationally and Hope 24th. A year ago, each team won on its home field. 

Saturday's game will mark the 77th meeting between Calvin and Hope in men's soccer. Calvin leads the all-time series 41-28-7 (wins-losses-ties). 

In its victory over Olivet Wednesday afternoon, Calvin (9-1-1 overall) broke loose for three second half goals in a span of 18 minutes to pull away for the win. 

Calvin outshot Olivet (3-8-1 overall, 2-3-0 MIAA) 10-2 in the opening half but Olivet goalkeeper Will Drogt came up with six first half saves to keep the Knights off the scoreboard. 

Calvin junior Nick Capisciolto (Unity Christian HS) broke the scoreless tie five minutes into the second half however, accepting a lead pass from senior Kurt Visker (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and a whipping in a shot just inside the far post for his fourth goal of the year. 

The same combination hooked up 12 minutes later with Visker heading in a direct kick from Capisciolto. The Visker goal was his fifth of the year while the assist was the seventh of the year for Capisciolto. 

Junior outside back Nate Kooi (Lynden, WA) then got his head on a cross from freshman Steve Holwerda (Grand Rapids Christian HS) five-a-half minutes later and ripped it just inside the far post for his first goal of the year. 

Calvin finished the game with a 27-4 shots at goal advantage including 17-2 in the second half. Senior Joe Westra (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and freshman Matt Gardner (Worthington, OH) combined on the shutout victory for the Knights. Drogt had seven saves for the Comets with his backup Ben Richardson collecting one save in 15 minutes of action.