GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Calvin opened its 2024 MIAA campaign in winning fashion, defeating the visiting Adrian Bulldogs 9-8 in double-overtime at Zuidema Field.

The victory was Calvin's fourth straight on the 2024 season and its first over Adrian since 2021. The Knights are now 8-3 overall and 1-0 in the MIAA heading into a Tuesday night rivalry match at Hope.

Junior Christian Coler (Ionia, N.Y. Honeyoye Falls-Lima) scored a man-up goal just 27 seconds into the second overtime to lift Calvin to the win. The play began with a shot from the right wing by sophomore Braden Carpenter that was saved by Adrian goalie Sam Spangler. Coler was able to jump on the rebound just outside the crease, whirl and fire the ball just into the upper right hand corner of the net for the game-winning score.

"We knew based on how they had been playing us that the look from the right wing would be open," said Calvin head coach Dave Hoger. "That led to the first shot by Braden Carpenter (Noblesville, Ind. Noblesville). We've been talking about learning how to be gritty and outworking the opposition. Christian Coler showed that grit by grabbing a tough ground ball and then scoring the game-winner."

Calvin scored the opening two goals of the game with freshman Riley DeSarbo (Monroe, Mich./St. Mary's Catholic Central HS) and junior Thomas Smith (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. Grosse Pointe South) scoring in the opening six minutes but Adrian punched back, forcing the Knights to play from behind for much of the contest.

Adrian (5-6 overall, 0-1 MIAA) overcame a 2-0 deficit with four straight goals in a span of four-and-a-half minutes to lead 4-2 after one quarter.

Sophomore David Blackmon (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton North HS) shoved home a goal for the Knights a minute into the second quarter to make it a one-goal game but Adrian answered with a goal with 8:17 left in the quarter and led 5-3 at halftime.

Freshman Drew Garrison (Columbus, Ohio Worthington Kilbourne) got loose just 24 seconds into the third quarter to score for the Knights off a feed from Blackmon. Blackmon then scored off a tight angle with 6:28 left in the third to tie the game 5-5.

Adrian's responded with a pair of goals just 11 seconds apart to lead 7-5 late in the third period. A goal in the final minute of the third by junior Nick Griffith (Geneva, Fla./Ovideo HS) brought Calvin to within a goal heading into the final period of regulation.

With time ticking down, Adrian was whistled for a two-minute penalty for an illegal body check. The un-releasable penalty kept Calvin on the man-up advantage at a key juncture of the contest and the Knights made good on the opportunity, receiving a man-up goal by Carpenter with 5:56 left and then taking an 8-7 lead with 4:49 remaining.

Calvin attempted to hold on to the one-goal lead but Adrian was able to gain possession with just over two minutes left and score the game-tying goal with 1:31 left in the fourth.

Calvin was whistled for a one-minute penalty at the same time but sophomore Nate Hanson (Naperville, Il./Naperville North HS) was able to win a key face-off after the game-tying goal. Calvin was able to maintain possession for nearly the entire remaining 91 seconds of regulation to send the contest into sudden-death overtime.

In the first four minute overtime, Adrian sailed four shots wide of the Calvin goal. With just seven seconds left in overtime No. 1, an Adrian attacker was called for a one-minute illegal contact of Calvin senior goalie Corgan Schaumburg (Rockton, Ill. Hononegah) in attempting a shot in the Calvin crease. The one-minute penalty put Calvin on the man-up advantage which carried over into the second overtime.

Due to the penalty, Calvin opened the second overtime with ball and worked the ball around to the right wing, leading to Carpenter's shot and Coler's subsequent scoop and score.

Calvin finished the game with a 51-49 shots at goal advantage. Schaumburg came up with 15 saves for the Knights in goal while Spangler had 17 saves for Adrian.

Smith and Blackmon led the Calvin attack with two goals apiece. Freshman Jordan Warners (Orange, Calif. Crean Lutheran), Blackmon, senior Joshua Moyer (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic HS), Griffith and junior Jacob Bledsoe (Mission Viejo, Calif. J. Serra Catholic) all had one assist apiece.

Coler had eight ground balls while Schaumburg had six. Blackmon, Carpenter and senior Ethan Boelens (Grayslake, Il./Grayslake Central HS) had four ground balls apiece.

COACHES CLOSING COMMENT: "We knew coming in that Adrian was give us a battle," said Hoger. "Adrian is a good team that has been third in the league the last two years. Our guys honestly just had a lot of grit today. We took the early lead, gave up a few unfortunate goals and fought back with some hard work, playing together and just focusing on us."

NEXT UP: Calvin will travel to rival Hope on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest at Van Andel Stadium.