In Calvin's first meeting with Hope this season, Scott Hooker (Hudsonville/ Unity Christian) fed Luke Holtrop (Hudsonville/ Unity Christian) to lead the Knights past the Dutchmen and into first place. This afternoon, Michael Holwerda (Grand Rapids/ Grand Rapids Christian) fed both Hooker and Holtrop, but their goals weren't enough for the win as the Knights tied Hope 2-2 in two overtimes at the Buys Athletic Complex. 

"It is always so difficult to play here so to come out of today's game with a tie is a big positive for us," Coach Chris Hughes said. "It keeps us in first place and gives us at least a four-point lead over everyone else in the league." 

The Knights now lead second place Kalamazoo by that margin as the Hornets were the only one of the three teams tied for second to win this afternoon. Albion tied Adrian and remains tied with Hope for third place six points behind the Knights. 

Calvin got on the board first as Holwerda put a through ball right to the feet of Hooker who beat charging Hope goal keeper Michael Amerman for his fourth goal of the season, putting Calvin up 1-0 in the 24th minute. 

With the Knights protecting a 1-0 lead, Dan VanSlyke (Grove City, PA/ Trinity Christian) saved Calvin's lead three times as three Hope corner kick attacks would have found the back of the net had VanSlyke not been guarding the far post. 

"VanSlyke had a hat-trick defensively on the post in the first half," Hughes said. "He really stepped up and made a big difference in today's game with his defensive intensity and hustle." 

Despite VanSlyke's three blocks, Hope was still able to even the score in the first half as Kevin Bartosek fired a shot from outside the box that took a nasty bounce over the outstretched arms of Calvin goalkeeper Darrin Cline (Grandville/ Grandville). It was only the third goal that Cline had allowed in the MIAA this season and snapped a scoreless streak of over 700 minutes by the Calvin defense. 

Calvin struck first in the second half as well. In the 62nd minute, Holtrop flicked a Holwerda through ball over the keeper to give Calvin a 2-1 lead. It was Holtrop's third goal of the season and Holwerda's team high fifth assist. Holwerda leads Calvin's league best offense with 16 points. 

"Our strikers did some very good things today, particularly in the final 10 minutes of regulation and in overtime," Hughes said. "We had several strong scoring chances and I liked what I saw from my strikers this afternoon." 

The Knight defense was able to keep last year's league MVP and All-American Dan Tresslar in check most of the game, but in the 76th minute Tresslar maneuvered through the Calvin defense for an open shot. The shot deflected of the cross bar, but to the foot of Kevin McMahon who evened the score at 2-2. 

Calvin had two near game winners drift just wide of the net in two overtime periods, but held Hope to preserve the 2-2 tie. The Knights needed only the single point from a tie to preserve their cushion in the league standings, but Hughes said Calvin wasn't thinking like that. 

"We were playing for the win," Hughes said. "I wasn't going to tell them to pack it in [defensively]." 

Hope outshot the Knights 23-15 and held a 10-8 corner kick advantage, but no team really held an advantage in time of possession. 

"It was a typical Calvin-Hope game," Hughes said. "Very physical and counterattack after counterattack. Both of our goals came on counterattacks and I was proud of the way our guys kept attacking the goal. Hope has a very good team and they played us tough today which was no surprise. We knew they would give us their best shot." 

It was the first time this season that the Calvin defense and Cline, who was ranked 10th nationally with a 0.37 goals against aversingle goal in a league game, despite the fact that the defense is made up of two freshman and two sophomores. 

"Our kids really battled on defense and didn't back down," Hughes said. "They came through nicely and stood strong." 

Calvin will host Olivet on Saturday at 2p.m. and immediately after the game Hughes was already looking ahead.  

"We have to focus on our next game and put this one in the rearview mirror. Our next game will be the biggest game of the season and it will remain that way through the end of the year."