KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Calvin moved into a tie for first place in the MIAA standings with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory at Kalamazoo College Saturday afternoon.
The Knights are now 11-2-1 overall and more importantly 3-0-1 in league play, leaving the Knights tied for first in the MIAA standings with rival Hope which also sports a 3-0-1 league mark heading into the back stretch of the conference season.
Calvin generated several scoring chances early in Saturday's match at Kalamazoo but found itself behind on the scoreboard after the Hornets jumped on a failed clearance off a free kick and blasted in a shot from 25 yards out for a 1-0 lead in the 30
th minute of play.
Kalamazoo (3-8-2 overall, 1-2-1 MIAA) made the lead hold up into halftime.
Calvin pressured early in the second half and broke through the Hornet defense in the 57
th minute as junior
Matt Torrell (Rochester, N.Y./The Charles Finney School) curled in a shot from the center of the pitch after receiving a short pass from junior
Osiel Peguero (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/The Kiski School). The goal by Torrell was his team-leading 10
th goal of the season.
Nearly five minutes later, Calvin grabbed a 2-1 lead off a nifty pass by senior
Hans Pruis (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) that found freshman
Will Lanham (Commerce Township, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) racing into the 18-yard box. Lanham slid a low shot pass the Hornet goalkeeper for his sixth goal of the season.
The Knights picked up an important insurance goal in the 78
th minute as Pruis percolated again with a precise pass that sprung freshman
Kaden Roskowski (Bend, Ore./Summit HS) for a blast that put the Knights up 3-1. The goal was the first collegiate tally of Roskowski's collegiate career.
The goal proved to be the game winner as the Hornets scored in the 88
th minute.
Calvin held on tight in the final minutes however to gain the win and the three conference points in the standings.
Calvin finished with a 19-7 shots at goal advantage.
Senior
Zac Moore (Pilesgrove, NJ/Woodstown HS) had one save in goal for the Knights.
COACHES COMMENT: "No such thing as an easy three points in the MIAA," said Calvin head men's soccer coach
Ryan Souders. "Kalamazoo made it difficult as expected, and we didn't open the match well at all. But credit to the group. After some frank conversation at the half, their focus and execution were significantly better, enabling us to get the result on the road."
NEXT UP: Calvin will host Albion next Tuesday at Calvin Soccer Stadium in a key conference contest.
