The Knights may have outplayed #12 North Park University, but the visiting Vikings were able to finish on their scoring chances, something Calvin didn't do as they fell 2-0 in the first game of the Cal Bergsma Memorial Tournament at Calvin.
"I thought our guys did a tremendous job of creating opportunities," assistant Coach Don Buchholz said. "It was just a matter of inches, it's just something we have to work through right now and that's just the bottom line."
Calvin outshot North Park 13-9 and controlled most of the game, but two North Park counter attacks found the back of the net.
In the 23rd minute, Jordan Gyuricza broke down the right sideline and fired a cross behind the Calvin defense. Vernon Larsen was there and redirected the ball passed a diving Darrin Cline (Grandville/Grandville), who started for Dave Fortosis (West Chicago, IL/ Wheaton Academy) who was sidelined with an injury.
Calvin's offensive momentum was halted near the end of the first half as a Calvin player received a red card, forcing the Knights to play a man down the rest of the game. "[At halftime] I said they needed to keep their composure," Buchholz said. "I felt if we kept our composure and played the way that we are capable of playing, I felt that we would be able to come back and actually win the game, I really did."
Calvin more than kept its composure, as it came out firing seven shots and four corner kicks in the second half. The Knights, however, watched their three golden opportunities sail over the goal, miss wide right and bank off of the corner post before North Park's Nathan Ryan put the game away with a beautiful straight on shot from 35 yards out that dropped perfectly over Cline.
But the Calvin coaching staff was still pleased with their team's effort, as the Knights moved the ball extremely well against an outstanding Viking defense.
"That's our strength this year, quick movement of the ball," Buchholz said.
The tournament doesn't get any easier for the Knights; they will face #17 Wheaton College tomorrow at 2:00pm.
