OLIVET, Mich. – Calvin remained on top of the MIAA table with a 7-0 conference victory over The University of Olivet Saturday night at Calvin Soccer Stadium.
The Knights remain two points clear of second place Albion with one league matchday left to play. Calvin will travel to Kalamazoo next Tuesday while Albion will be at Trine.
At 5-0-1 in league play, Calvin can do no worse than second place in the final league table and have clinched a first round bye to next week's MIAA Tournament which opens October 31. Calvin will host an MIAA Tournament semifinal game on November 3 at a time and against an opponent yet to be determined.
Ranked 14
th nationally, Calvin (13-1-2) scored just 1:33 into Saturday's match against Olivet as junior
Colin Nieuwenhuis (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) stayed onside against the Comet trap and rapped in a shot near the six-yard box after a one-two passing combination from sophomore
Will Lanham (Commerce Twp., Mich./Pontiac Notre Dame Prep) and junior
Mats Bramer (Dortmund, Germany).
Senior
Chase Alexandre (Brighton, NY/Brighton HS) was tripped up in the Comet penalty box in the 11
th minute and converted the spot kick for a 2-0 Calvin advantage.
Lanham ripped in a shot in the 27
th minute as his blast deflected off a defender and into the top right-hand corner of the goal for a 3-0 lead. Junior
Bennett Quijano (Canton, Mich./Salem HS) was the beneficiary of an Olivet foul in the 18-yard box and promptly converted his penalty kick for a 4-0 Knight lead.
Bramer slalomed through the Olivet defense in the 54
th minute and belted in a blast from 20 yards out to put Calvin up 5-0.
Senior
Hans Pruis (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) popped in a goal off a centering pass from senior
Foster Garrett (Canton, Mich./Salem HS) in the 69
th minute.
Freshman
Zach Heisler (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) closed out the scoring, whipping in a shot after receiving a lead pass from freshman
Saunder Sotok (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa HS) in the 78
th minute.
Calvin held a 25-1 shots at goal advantage.
Junior
John Hargett (Powell, Oh./Olentangy HS) went the first 45 minutes in goal. Senior
Giancarlo Acosta (Bernardsville, NJ/Bernardsville HS) went the next 22 and freshman
Wesley Gebhart (Bentonville, Ark./Bentonville West HS) the final 23 minutes to share the shutout.
COACHES COMMENT: "Proud of the group to get another 3 league points tonight," said Calvin head men's soccer coach
Ryan Souders. "Says a lot when we had as many guys contribute to the scoreline tonight. We'll have tough battle next Tuesday that we need to be ready for, but we'll enjoy the win as we prep for Tuesday."
NEXT UP: Calvin will travel to Kalamazoo next Tuesday for a 7 p.m. conference match.
