GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Calvin produced a series of set piece specials in defeating Albion 4-1 in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals Wednesday night at Zuidema Field.
The victory vaults Calvin into the MIAA Tournament Championship Final on Saturday against Trine with opening kickoff set for 1 p.m. at Zuidema Field.
In its victory over Albion, Calvin (16-0-1) scored all four of its goals off of corner kick plays.
The Knights scored a pair of goals of corner kick plays three-and-a-half minutes apart in the first half to lead 2-0 at the break.
Albion (7-5-5) fought back with a set piece goal of its own with 17:38 left to play but Calvin countered with a goal off a cross into the box from the right wing just a minute-and-a-half later to lead 3-1 and added a clinching goal off yet another corner kick in the 87
th minute.
After defeating the Britons 2-0 one week prior, Calvin got off on the right foot Wednesday as junior
Kaitlyn Van Laare (Toronto, Ont./Toronto Christian HS) lofted a corner from the right wing that found freshman
Lucy Iverson (Naperville, Il./Naperville North HS) alone on the far side of the box. Iverson connected on the corner with a full volley shot that tucked inside the opposite post to put the Knights up 1-0 in the 22
nd minute of play. Just over two minute later, Van Laare curled in another corner kick that Iverson was able to head to the feet of freshman
Mia Judd (Grand Ledge, Mich./Lansing Christian HS). Judd was able to whirl, collect her feet and toe-poke a right-footed shot inside the left post for a 2-0 Calvin lead.
Albion pressed the attack in the second half and finally broke through in the 73
rd minute as the Britons were awarded a free kick just outside the Calvin box on the right wing. Albion's Megan Loney sent a short chip to the near post that Anna Morris was able to head into an open goal to slice the deficit in half. The goal was just the second allowed by Calvin this season.
Undaunted, Calvin moved the ball back upfield and in the 74
th minute, Van Laare was able to send a sharply driven cross into the Albion goalmouth. With a Calvin attacker pinching in, an Albion defender stepped in front of the cross but deflected it into the net for an own goal, giving the Knights a 3-1 advantage.
Calvin's final tally came in the 87
th minute on another crafty corner kick – this time by freshman Ellie Farrell (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton Warrenville South HS). Farrell sent in a low-driving corner to the near post that freshman
Mia Brown (Norton Shores, Mich./Mona Shores HS) connected with on a short half-volley and rocketed into the back of the net to close out the scoring.
The goal was the first of Brown's collegiate career.
Calvin finished with a commanding 23-9 shots at goal advantage and held an 11-0 edge in corner kicks.
Freshman
Kalex Dodge (Leslie, Mich./Leslie HS) picked up four saves and the win in goal for the Knights.
COACHES COMMENT: "We have spent a lot of time working on set pieces," said Calvin head women's soccer coach
Emily Ottenhoff. "We have some obvious target players that we like to use on those plays and goals typically are scored in the penalty box so it makes all the sense in the world for us to make that one of our focal points. Albion is a good team. We have a strong conference so I didn't expect them to roll over for us at halftime and they made things difficult for us. It was good to respond with a goal after they closed the gap and finish out tonight with the win. We are excited to have the opportunity to play in the final on Saturday. It's an opportunity we don't take for granted. We know that Trine will be a very difficult opponent to play but we're excited to play at Zuidema Field again in front of our fans. We know that the seasons for both teams will be on the line."
NEXT UP: Calvin will host Trine in the MIAA Tournament Championship final on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Zuidema Field.
Calvin-Albion Smugmug Photo Gallery
