GAMBIER, Ohio - For the third time in school history, the Calvin men's soccer team is headed to the NCAA III Tournament Semifinals.

Ranked No. 1 in the country, the Knights (24-0-1) advanced to the semifinals with a dramatic 1-0 victory at No. 3 ranked Kenyon College (19-2-1)  Saturday afternoon in a national quarterfinal game.

Calvin will face the winner of a Monday quarterfinal game between Wheaton (Ill.) and Loras (Iowa) on December 4 in the NCAA III Semifinals in Kansas City, Missouri.

Calvin previously reached the national semifinals in both 2009 and 2011, eventually losing in the national championship final both years.

Calvin rode the heroics of senior goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos (Markham, Ont./St. Augustine Catholic HS) and freshman Jacob Witte (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) to claim Saturday's victory over Kenyon.

Giantsopoulos was clutch throughout the match, collecting three saves including a smothering stop of a breakaway by Kenyon striker Oliver Wynn with with just over 10 minutes left in regulation time.

Just over four minutes later, Calvin received a breakaway of its own as a ball through the midfield eluded a Kenyon defender with Witte pouncing on the loose ball for a breakaway. Witte made no mistake, slotting a shot to the far post to give the Knights a stunning 1-0 lead with just 6:34 remaining on the clock. The goal was the fifth of the year for Witte who had come on in reserve in the second half.

Calvin's defense then stiffened in the closing minutes with the Knights able to prevent a Kenyon shot from reaching frame.

Both teams had quality scoring chances earlier in the game. In the first half, Calvin junior Isky VanDoorne (Calgary, AB/Western Canada HS) was able to beat Kenyon goalkeeper Sam Clougher to the ball just outside the far right side of the box. VanDoorne then sent a shot from a sharp angle that slipped under a defender attempting to protect the goal but slithered just wide of the far post.

Kenyon finished the game with a 10-7 shots at goal advantage including 8-3 in the second half. The Lords had a header off a corner kick by Tony Amolo sail just high in the 70th minute prior to Giantsopoulos stuffing Kenyon's breakaway attempt nine minutes later.

With the win, Giantsopoulos recorded his 19th shutout of the season, setting a new NCAA III single-season record, breaking the previous mark of 18 set by Joel Wallace of MacMurray College in 1991.

"What a hard-fought game against a tremendous opponent," said an exhausted but elated Calvin head men's soccer coach Ryan Souders after the match. "Our guys from 1-to-26 had incredible resolve all weekend to get this done and that has been a common theme of this team. They wanted to get this done today and they did."

Souders will be leading Calvin into the national semifinals for the first time as a head coach. He previously reached the national semifinals as the starting goalkeeper for Wheaton College in 2006, helping the Thunder reach the national championship final before falling to Messiah College (Pa.).  

"As a player, it was an experience that I will never forget and that makes me all the more excited for our guys because of the opportunity that they have in front of them," said Souders. "It is an opportunity that not many student-athletes receive and I am thrilled that this group of players will get that chance."

Souders also spoke on the play of Giantsopoulos who was stellar on Saturday as well as on Friday in Calvin's 1-0 win over Franklin and Marshall. "He's one of the best," said Souders of his starting goalkeeper. "He gives our team great confidence and always gives our team a chance to win. That's all you can ask from a goalkeeper."

Calvin is now 16-12-8 all-time in NCAA III Tournament play. Calvin is 3-2-0 in NCAA III quarterfinal games, having won in 2009, 2011 and 2015 and fallen in 1980 and 2010. The Knights are also now 2-0 in NCAA III Tournament play against Kenyon, having defeated the Lords 2-0 in the first round of the 1991 NCAA III Tournament.