GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Calvin dropped its weekend opener, falling 14-9 to Southwestern University of Texas Friday afternoon at Zuidema Field.

Friday's game provided a back-and-forth first half with the visiting Pirates closing out the half on a 3-0 run, en route to taking a 9-7 halftime lead.

Southwestern carried the momentum into the second half, outscoring the Knights 5-2 in the final 30 minutes of play to pull away for the win.

Senior Joshua Moyer (Allentown, Pa. Allentown Central Catholic) put the Knights up early, whipping home a shot just 22 seconds in the contest off a feed from senior Cole McKenney (Mission Viejo, Calif. Trabuco Hills). Cade McDonald scored back-to-back goals for Southwestern with the Knights punching back behind goals from sophomore Jordan Warners (Orange, Calif. Crean Lutheran) and Moyer to take a 3-2 lead.

Southwestern (4-1) scored the next three goals to build a 5-3 lead but a right wing snipe but goals from senior Christian Coler (Ionia, N.Y. Honeyoye Falls-Lima) and senior Nick Griffith (Geneva, Fla. Oviedo) tied the score 5-5. Southwestern took a 6-5 lead but a left-wing snipe from junior David Blackmon (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton North HS) and a blast from freshman Colin TeBrake (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview HS) gave Calvin a 7-6 advantage.
Calvin was then whistled for a three-minute penalty and Southwestern made good on the opportunity with an extra-man goal to tie the contest 7-7. With the penalty just expired, Southwestern maintained its attack and scored to go up 8-7 and then added another with 31 seconds left in the half to lead 9-7.

Another extra-man goal allowed the Pirates to lead 10-7. Calvin sophomore Riley DeSarbo (Monroe, Mich. St. Mary's Catholic Central) brought Calvin within two at 10-8 but Southwestern held possession for large portions of the second half with goalie Dante Avicolli making a handful of strong saves to keep the Knights at bay. The Southwestern lead grew to 14-8 before a late Calvin goal from Blackmon completed the final margin of victory.

Calvin finished with a 48-35 shots at goal advantage but Avicolli collected 20 saves for Southwestern in goal.
Blackmon had two goals and an assist for the Knights. Moyer also had two goals and an assist. TeBrake had a goal and an assist. Sophomore Drew Garrison (Columbus, Ohio Worthington Kilbourne) caused four Southwestern turnovers and scooped up nine ground balls. Coler, Blackmon and sophomore Jackson Engbers (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) had four ground balls apiece. Junior Nate Hanson (Naperville, Il./Naperville North HS) was 15 of 24 on faceoff opportunities and was credited with six ground balls.

Senior Carter Sherman (Ada, Mich./Lowell HS) had six saves for Calvin in goal.

Calvin will host Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday at 5 p.m. The contest will be part of the Midwest Classic triple-header at Zuidema Field with Hope and Southwestern meeting at noon and Albion and North Central playing at 2:30 p.m. prior to the Calvin-Illinois Wesleyan contest.