GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin men's soccer team rolled to a 6-0 victory over Albion at a frigid Zuidema Field Wednesday night in the MIAA Tournament semifinals.
The Knights advance to the MIAA Tournament Championship final on Saturday and will host Olivet in the final at 5 p.m. with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament.
Saturday's game will mark the second meeting between Calvin and Olivet in the MIAA Tournament Championship final with the Knights claiming the first meeting back in 2012 by a 3-0 score. Olivet advanced by way of a 3-2 overtime victory at Trine Wednesday night.
In its victory over Albion Wednesday night, 10
th-ranked Calvin led 3-0 at halftime behind first half goals from seniors
Reed Vanderlugt (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS),
Oliver Akintade (Lake Forest, Il./Lake Forest HS) and
Colin Iverson (Naperville, Il./Naperville North HS). The Vandelugt goal gave Calvin the early momentum as he headed in a pass from Iverson in the 9
th minute of play. Akintade got loose for 12
th goal of the year in the 13
th minute of play In the 27
th minute, Iverson headed in a perfectly placed free kick by junior
Alex White (Lake Bluff, Il./Lake Forest Academy).
In the 59
th minute, senior
Chris Schau (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) beat the goalkeeper on a breakaway and slipped the ball into a wide-open net for his team-leading 13
th goal of the season.
Senior
Zach Flowerday (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) scored in the 74
th minute, netting an unassisted shot for his fourth goal of the season.
In the 82
nd minute, freshman
Osiel Peguero (Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional The Kiski School) latched onto a well-placed pass at the back post from sophomore teammate
Jonah Meyer-Crothers (Sylvania, Oh./Sylvania Northview HS) and slipped a shot home for his second goal of the season.
Calvin finished with a 23-13 shots at goal advantage. Senior goalkeeper
Daniel Wunder (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) went the distance in goal for the Knights, collecting four saves in posting his seventh shutout of the season.
COACHES COMMENT: "Really good to get a win on a cold night in front of the home fans," said Calvin head men's soccer coach
Ryan Souders. "We are excited to play for a trophy in front of our home crowd on Saturday. We know that we will need to be prepared to play an Olivet team that has caught fire and is playing with a lot of momentum right now. We are looking forward to the opportunity."
