In a meeting of nationally-ranked teams, Hope pulled out a 2-1 victory at Calvin Saturday afternoon. Ranked 24th nationally, the Flying Dutchmen (10-2 overall, 6-0-0 MIAA) took over sole possession of first place in the MIAA standings with the victory while 13th-ranked Calvin (9-2-1 overall, 5-1-0 MIAA) dropped a game behind and into a tie for second place with Kalamazoo. 

Saturday's outcome marked the eighth-straight time that Calvin and Hope have played to a one-goal decision. Calvin held control for the majority of the match but it was Hope that capitalized on its scoring opportunities. 

Calvin received a golden opportunity 10 minutes in when junior Nick Capisciolto broke free in the Hope penalty box off a lead pass from freshman teammate Michael Holwerda (Grand Rapids Christian HS). Hope senior goalkeeper Kevin Butterfield was able to charge out of the net to cut down Capisciolto's shooting space on the play however and Capisciolto followed with a whistling a shot just over the crossbar. 

Five minutes later, Holwerda just missed the far post with a rip from 20 yards out. Hope then capitalized in the 23rd minute on a fine individual effort by senior Devin McNeil. McNeil broke free with a nifty move up the left sideline and then cranked a shot that skipped off the back of a Calvin defender and over Calvin goalkeeper Joe Westra's outstretched hands into the net. 

Just over 10 minutes later, Hope came up with goal number-two as senior Geoff Meyer fell in the goalmouth on a scramble play but rebounded to curl a bicycle kick shot up and over Westra to give the Flying Dutchmen a stunning 2-0 lead. 

Calvin would not quit and sliced the deficit in half on a rush up the field by junior midfielder Maurice Wright (Wauwatosa, WI). Wright took the ball right of center at the 40-yard line and after dribbling to the left, blasted a left-footed shot from 20 yards out just inside the far goalpost. The goal was the first of the year for Wright and came with just 3:37 left in the first half. 

The goal by Wright propelled the Knights into the second half as Calvin continued to pepper the Hope goal. Calvin outshot Hope 16-1 in the second half but could not slip another shot past Butterfield who came up with six second half saves. Butterfield's best moment came in a quick flurry 12 minutes into the second half as he deflected a low laser shot by Holwerda and then made a leaping stab on a rebound header by Calvin senior Matt Cosnek (Hopewell, PA). A few minutes later, Butterfield came up with another sterling save on a Capisciolto blast from the left wing that appeared headed for the far post. 

Butterfield finished the game with seven saves while Westra had two saves for the Knights including a leaping stab of his own on a header by Meyer midway through the second half. 

Calvin finished the game with a 21-4 shots at goal advantage. The loss snapped Calvin's six-game win streak and seven-game unbeaten string. Meanwhile, Hope stretched its win streak to nine games.  

Saturday's game was also an historic occasion for the Calvin men's soccer program as its soccer pitch was renamed Marvin A. Zuidema Field in a halftime 
ceremony. The field was renamed in honor of longtime Calvin men's soccer coach Dr. Marvin Zuidema who served as Calvin men's soccer coach for 36 years. 

Calvin returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Kalamazoo for a 4:00 p.m. conference match that will pit a pair of second place teams.