Calvin University

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's soccer team stayed on pace to stay on top of the table in the MIAA when it defeated the Hornets of Kalamazoo College in its final home game of the regular season. After tonight the Knights improved to an overall record of 12-1-1 and sit tied for first with Hope in the MIAA with matching records of 5-0-1.
 
Wanting to set the tone early, the Knights wasted no time getting on the attack and earning a throw deep in Hornets territory. The ball was inbound just inside the eighteen-yard box to junior Olivia Rawls (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) who spun around a defender and fired a shot at goal. The Kalamazoo goalkeeper made a diving save, but senior Mikaela Waroway (Ann Arbor, Mich./Father Gabriel Richard) was lurking in the area and picked up the loose change to give the Knights a 1-0 just eight minutes into the match.
 
Looking to bounce back, the Hornets increased their offensive pressure for the rest of the half as they went on to record five shots on goal compared to Calvin's three. However, junior goalkeeper Aubree Lee (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) remained steady and recorded four saves to keep the score 1-0 heading into halftime.
 
Fifteen minutes into the second half the Knights were given a golden opportunity when a Hornets defender committed a foul in the box and the center referee awarded Calvin a penalty kick. Waroway, who already had one goal in the match, stepped up to the spot and fired a rocket past the Kalamazoo goalkeeper to give the Knights some breathing room.
 
Waroway polished off her evening in the 74th minute when she scored off a cross from freshman Bianca Juncaj (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) to complete her second hat trick of the season and stretch the lead to 3-0.
 
For the rest of the match, the Knights packed in defensively and smothered any attempts the Hornets tried to create. Kalamazoo finished the match outshooting the Knights 13-10 but it was Calvin who walked away with the 3-0 victory. Lee finished her night with five saves.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Tonight was a really big result against Kalamazoo who was undefeated in conference play," said head coach Emily Ottenhoff. "I thought our group came with an edge that we've been missing. A total group effort to get the ball in the back of the net 3 times, hold a shutout and get the win."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Saturday, October 24th when they travel to Olivet to take on the Comets at 1 PM.