Box Score OLIVET, Mich. – The Calvin women's soccer team clipped the Comets of Olivet in a season-opening thriller Thursday afternoon, scoring in the final 27 seconds of play to claim a 1-0 win.
Thursday's game marked the season opener for both teams.
Calvin outshot Olivet 19-2 but was unable to push one past the Olivet keeper until the final minute of play.
The Knights were getting to the goal early in the contest as they fired shots at goal by Maria VanderLei (Grand Rapids, MI / Grand Rapids Christian) and Karley Michmerhuizen (Hudsonville, MI / Unity Christian) in the opening six minutes. Olivet goalkeeper Mekenzie Lamb had some great saves in the first half of play to keep Calvin from scoring.
The Knights outshot the Comets 7-1 in the first half with Lamb collecting six saves.
Calvin continued to keep the pressure on Olivet as they had three corner kicks and three shots within the first 17 minutes of the second half. Calvin continued to pressure the Olivet goal and nearly scored in the 80th minute when freshman Sophie Mueller (North Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon HS) rang a shot off the Olivet crossbar.
Olivet threatened with a shot with just under two minutes remaining that sailed wide.
As the game was coming to a close the Knights gave one more last push to get a goal. Freshman Elizabeth Williams (Grand Rapids, MI / Grand Rapids Christian) blasted a shot that Lamb parried away, but it gave Calvin one last corner kick to with 40 seconds left.
Mueller took the corner for the Knights and sent the ball into the box. Senior Karley Babcock (Paw Paw, MI / Paw Paw) was waiting on the back side of the goal just inside the six yard box and placed a quick shot into the back of the net. The goal was the first of Babcock's collegiate career.
The Knights outshot the Comets 19-2 on the day with 11 shots on goal. Also, Calvin led in corner kicks with 8-0 and Olivet had 17 fouls to Calvin's 4. Lamb had 10 saves in net for Olivet. Senior Amy Kliewer (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS) had one save in goal for Calvin in collecting the clean sheet – the 15th of her collegiate career.
COMMENTS: "It was a great service from Sophie and obviously scoring a game winner in the last 30 seconds is thrilling," said senior Karley Babcock. "My teammates and I are really thankful to all those at Calvin doing the work to help make these games happen."
"We knew today's match would be tough, Olivet always competes really hard and puts pressure on their opponent," said Head Coach Emily Ottenhoff. "Certainly, we would've loved to have been able to put the game away on some earlier chances but ultimately one more than the other team is all it takes. A lot of good things from our group today and a lot of work ahead of us. We look forward to the next opportunity to compete."
UP NEXT: Calvin will host Alma next Tuesday with a kickoff set for 7:00 p.m.
