GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A late goal off a set piece propelled the Calvin men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over the University of Chicago Wednesday night at Calvin Soccer Stadium.

The win was Calvin's first over the visiting Maroons (5-5-0) since 2019.

The game-winning goal came off the head of senior Jacob Goodling (Charlotte, N.C./Covenant Day School) who redirected a corner kick service by freshman Jake Ziolo (Dublin, Oh./Dublin Jerome HS) into the upper left-hand corner of the net with just 4:35 left in the match. The Goodling goal culminated a steady Calvin comeback after the Knights had trailed 1-0 and later 2-1.
 
After a scoreless opening 30 minutes, Chicago struck first off a header of its own off a corner kick with Nick Lorr heading a ball into the back of the Calvin net for a 1-0 advantage. The lead held into halftime as Chicago held a 9-3 shots at goal advantage. Calvin senior goalkeeper Kaelen Matascastillo (New Kensington, Pa./Minnesota Virtual Academy) came up with a pair of superb saves to hold the Maroons to one goal.

Calvin (6-4-0) leveled the score early in the second half as junior Jonah Meyer-Crothers (Sylvania, Oh./Sylvania Northview HS) pounced on a loose ball just outside the six-yard box and fired a shot through a clove of Chicago defenders to make it a 1-1 match. The goal came just 2:08 into the second half but Chicago regained the lead on a quick counterattack five minutes later with Danny Mendoza poking home a shot into a wide-open net on a two-on-one break with teammate Kai Walsh.

Calvin answered right back a minute-and-a-half later with sophomore Foster Garrett (Canton, Mich./Salem HS) slipping a pass through the left side of the 18-yard box to senior Alex White. White eluded one defender, kept his feet as another defender brushed by and slotted home a shot inside the far right post for a 2-2 scoreline.

Both teams continued to press for the go-ahead goal but the final 15 minutes belonged to Calvin and the Knights found gold when a consistent Calvin attack gave the Knights a corner kick from the right wing with just under five minutes to play. Ziolo's service was well-placed as was the header by Goodling as he rang up his fourth goal of the season.

Chicago finished with a 19-12 shots at goal advantage but just 10-9 in the second half.

Matascastillo had two first half saves. Senior Zac Moore (Pilesgrove, NJ./Woodstown HS) came on in the second half and came up with two stellar saves of his own.

Calvin is now 5-0-0 at home in 2024.

COACHES COMMENT: "A very gritty win against a very talented Chicago side," said Calvin head men's soccer coach Ryan Souders. "Coach (Phillip) Kroft does a fantastic job coaching his guys and every time we play them it seems like it goes down to the wire. Credit to our guys for digging down and responding tonight. I'm proud of their performance and most importantly, the overall team commitment to getting this one over the line."

NEXT UP: Calvin will host Kuyper College on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in front of a Calvin Homecoming Crowd. The match will be part of a women's/men's doubleheader with the Calvin women facing Saint Mary's at 4:30 p.m. A special dedication event for the new stadium will be held in between the two games.