WOOD-TV 8 POST-GAME MEDIA COVERAGE - 10-9-24

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Calvin opened its 2024 MIAA campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against rival Hope in front of more than 1,600 fans Wednesday night at Calvin Soccer Stadium.

Calvin (7-4-1 overall, 0-0-1 MIAA) remains unbeaten at home this fall, moving to 6-0-1 on its home pitch. The Knights also extended their unbeaten streak against Hope to 18 games as the Knights are 15-0-3 against the Flying Dutchmen over their last 18 meetings.

Hope (8-1-2, 0-0-1 MIAA) entered Wednesday's match ranked seventh in the latest Division III Top 25 national rankings.

Calvin got on the scoreboard first as freshman Xtreme Hauk (Lansing, Mich./East Lansing HS) pounced on a loose ball near the top of the 18-yard box and slipped a shot just inside the far post to give the Knights a 1-0 advantage just 6:51 into the contest.

Hope answered in the 22^nd minute as junior Seth Walters got free up top for the Flying Dutchmen on a quick break against the run of play. Walters broke free of a defender and then beat Calvin goalkeeper Kaelen Matascastillo (New Kensington, Pa./Minnesota Virtual Academy) with a blast from 25 yards out to level the match. The goal was the eighth of the season for Walters.

The Knights used a bend-but-don't break defensive formula in the second half and countered with timely offensive charges up field. In the 53^rd minute, freshman Colin Nieuwenhuis (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) got free through the right side of the Hope 18-yard box on a nifty flicked through-ball pass by senior Nick Augustyn (Westmont, Il./Benet Academy). Nieuwenhuis whistled a shot headed for the top shelf of the goal. Hope goalkeeper Daniel Hesselbein was up to the task, leaping into the air to parry the shot over the crossbar.

In the 67^th minute, Calvin senior Alex White (Lake Bluff, Il./Lake Forest Academy) nearly came up with a highlight-reel goal for the Knights as he lofted a shot from 25 yards out, left of center. The shot beat Hesselbein but clattered off the post and crossbar and came straight down, inches from crossing the goal-line. The Hope defense was able to clear the rebound away.

The shot by White proved to be the best scoring chance of the second half for either side as the remaining 23 minutes went scoreless, leaving the rivalry match in a 1-1 draw.

Calvin finished the match with a 10-6 shots at goal advantage. Matascastillo and senior Zac Moore split time in goal for Calvin with Moore recording a pair of second half saves. Hesselbein recorded four saves for Hope in goal.

COACHES COMMENT: "I thought we played extremely well for 90 minutes," said Calvin head men's soccer coach Ryan Souders. "That is a very good, dangerous Hope side. They are nationally-ranked in the Top 10 for a reason. I give our guys a ton of credit. I thought we executed our game plan very well. I thought our fight was there. I thought our grit was there and I thought our character and commitment were there as well. It's just a game of inches. If that strike by Alex is just an inch or two lower maybe we walk away with three points instead of one but objectively, this was a great college soccer coach. That's usually the case when Calvin and Hope get together for a match."

NEXT UP: Calvin will travel to Trine University on Saturday for a 1 p.m. match in Angola, Indiana.