GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Calvin women's soccer team's 2025 season came to an end when it fell to No. 4 ranked Messiah in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA III Tournament. Despite a close first half, a few key plays late in the match allowed the Falcon to sneak out a 1-0 victory as Calvin finished its season with an overall record of 16-5.
 
The first real scoring opportunity for the Knights came in the 19th minute when sophomore Ellery Boeving (Howell, Mich./Howell) sent a pass up the left side of the field where fellow sophomore Vivian Nagelkirk (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) had managed to sneak behind the Falcons defense. The ball was perfectly placed and landed ten yards in front of her, just outside the 18-yard box. Now, stuck deciding between defending the net and rushing the play, the Messiah goalkeeper was caught out of position as Nagelkirk saw the opening and tried to chip the ball on her first touch. Unfortunately for the Knights, the ball sailed just wide and landed in the side netting as the score stayed tied at 0-0.
 
Ten minutes later, Messiah created a solid opportunity of its own when it sent a ball across the box to a Falcon attacker waiting on the back post. With a wide-open net in front of her, a goal seemed imminent before junior midfielder Mikaela Waroway (Ann Arbor, Mich./Father Gabriel Richard) stepped in front at the last second to deflect the shot and eventually clear the ball without any damage done.
 
Despite the Falcons out shooting the Knights 13-2, some key defensive plays from senior Kiah Nichols (Hastings, Mich./Thornapple Kellogg), junior Katherine Bergman (Geneva, Ill./Geneva), and senior goalkeeper Kalex Dodge (Leslie, Mich./Leslie) allowed the Knights to head into halftime with the score still even at 0-0.
 
In the second half, both teams battled for momentum as they both worked to find holes in the opposing defense. It wasn't until the 77th minute that the game really picked up pace as the Falcons had numbers and the ball deep in Calvin territory. With defenders closing in Messiah attempted a shot which was saved by a diving Dodge in traffic. Still on the ground, Dodge quickly made another save before a third attempt by Messiah overwhelmed the Knights and the Falcons took a 1-0 lead.
 
Just one minute later the Knights earned themselves a free kick deep in Falcon's territory which would be taken by senior Liz Williams (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian). Williams sent an arcing ball into the box where it bounced off several bodies before Calvin players celebrated as they thought the ball had crossed the goal line. However, unfortunately for the Knights, it was quickly decided by the officiating crew that the Messiah defense was able to clear the ball before it could be counted as a goal and the Falcons retained their 1-0 lead.
 
Down the stretch, the Knights threw everything they had at the Messiah defense but it would not be enough as they would eventually fall in the Sweet 16 round. The Falcons outshot the Knights 23-13 while Calvin goalkeeper Dodge finished the day with ten saves.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "It was a really hard-fought game between two teams with contrasting styles," said Calvin head women's soccer coach Emily Ottenhoff. "I was really pleased with the way our players competed. I'm not sure I could have asked any more of them. A great play for Messiah that got them the winning goal. It looked like we might have gotten one right after but it wasn't to be. That's how the game goes sometimes. It was a lot of fun to watch this one though."