Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin men's soccer team took sole possession of first place in the MIAA with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win against Kalamazoo Tuesday night at Zuidema Field.
The anticipated matchup between two top teams in the MIAA standings with Calvin (13-2-2, 5-0) and Kalamazoo (9-3-2,4-1) began with each team getting some good possession early. Neither defense was giving an inch in the early minutes. It wasn't until the 17th minute where a mistake cost the Knights the lead. A misplaced backward pass led to the Hornets scoring the first goal of the match.
The Knights found themselves trailing 1-0 with 25 minutes left in the first half. Shortly after the goal Kalamazoo had a great chance on a free kick, but Daniel Wunder (Grand Rapids, MI / Grand Rapids Christian) made an incredible diving save to keep it a one-goal game.
Calvin was trying to find answers in the first half but was struggling to get one in the net as Kalamazoo's defense was holding strong. Senior Drew Van Andel (Grand Haven, MI / Grand Haven) had the chance to tie the game up just before halftime with a header off a corner kick. Unfortunately, the ball just missed the upper right-hand corner, and the Hornets led the Knights 1-0 heading into halftime.
The Knights came out of the half with energy and were putting the pressure on the Hornets. Calvin was mounting momentum in its favor and finally broke through in the 61st minute. The Knights tied the game after a nice cross from sophomore Oliver Akintade (Lake Forest, IL / Lake Forest) leading to a header by Aguma Muhumuza (Baton Rouge, LA / The Dunham School) that found the back of the net. The play began with a corner kick by senior Mason Smith (Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) that sailed to the right wing. Akintade dropped the ball back into the box and Muhumuza slam-dunked the header into a wide-open net.
The Hornets weren't going anywhere as they started to get their own chances as well. Kalamazoo earned a free kick just outside the box, but Wunder made another fantastic save to keep the game level. In the closing minutes of regulation, Van Andel just missed a header and Zach Flowerday (Holland, MI / Holland Christian) almost put one in as well as the game went to overtime with a score of 1-1.
In overtime, Chris Schau (Grand Rapids, MI / Grand Rapids Christian) came inches from ending the game after a scramble in the box where he got his foot on the ball, but the shot was just wide of the far post. The Knights continued to keep the pressure on Kalamazoo, and it finally paid off. Flowerday beat three defenders from the right wing and slipped a pass to Schau in the center. Schau then made a through-ball pass to Seamus Kilgallon (Plainfield, IL / Wheaton Academy) who was in the right position to score the game winning goal to give Calvin a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory.
The Knights had 11 corners to Kalamazoo's four while the Hornets outshot the Knights 18-16. Wunder finished the game with five saves on the evening.
COACHES COMMENTS: "That's a really good Kalamazoo team that is exceptionally well-coached," said Calvin head men's soccer coach Ryan Souders. "They made it really difficult on us – particularly in the first half. To the credit of our guys, we were a different team in the second half and were more like the team we have been. We started connecting more passes and becoming more dangerous in the final third. We're ecstatic to come away with a massive three (conference) points tonight."
UP NEXT: The Knights will travel to rival Hope on Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m.
