ALBION, Mich. – Calvin fell at defending MIAA regular champion Albion College 16-6 Friday night in the MIAA opener for both teams.

The Knights dip to 6-6 overall and 0-1 in the MIAA with the loss. 

Calvin led 3-2 in the first quarter, using three unanswered goals by senior Jake Boender (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) to build an early lead. 

Albion (8-3 overall, 1-0 MIAA) knotted the score 3-3 on a man-up goal with 5:53 left in the period and added two more goals in a span of two minutes to lead 5-3.

The Britons (8-3 overall, 1-0 MIAA) outscored Calvin 6-1 in the second quarter and 3-0 in the third quarter to pull away. 

Freshman Thomas Smith (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Pointe South HS) and Chuck McKenney (Mission Viejo, Ca./Trabuco Hills HS) scored single goals in the fourth quarter. 

Boender finished with three goals and one assist. 

Senior Drew Stoneburner (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton North HS) also had a goal for the Knights. 

Senior Evan Griffin (Howell, Mich./Hartland HS) had a busy night in goal, amassing a career-high 23 saves.   

Senior Chase Sparling won 20 of 24 faceoffs and tallied 11 ground balls. 

Calvin turned the ball over 41 times in the contest with Albion scooping up 39 ground balls. 

NEXT UP: Calvin will host Trine on Tuesday at 7 p.m.