GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Calvin fell to rival Hope 1-0 in the MIAA Tournament Championship game Saturday evening.
Hope used heavy pressure and then an own goal by the Calvin defense in the eighth minute of play for the only score of the match.
The defeat snapped a 16-match unbeaten streak for the Knights (15-2-2) and its first defeat since a 2-1 loss to Geneva on September 4.
Hope (13-2-4) had Calvin on the back foot throughout the first 20 minutes of the match, peppering the Calvin goal and breaking through in the ninth minute when a Hope attacker slid a hard cross into the Calvin box that was deflected by a Knight defender into the net.
Calvin had chances in the final minute of the first half but could not cash in.
Calvin outshot Hope 7-3 in the second half and had a point-blank shot near the six-yard box that flew over the bar with nine minutes left.
The Knights were unable to find the net the rest of the way as Hope secured the win, its first over Calvin since 2013.
Calvin finished with a 13-11 shots at goal advantage with Hope outshooting Calvin 8-6 in the first half.
Junior goalie
John Hargett (Powell, Oh./Olentangy HS) had four saves in goal in defeat for the Knights.
The Knight will now wait until Sunday night when the final NCAA cutline is posted for the teams that advance to the NCAA III Tournament. Calvin will be waiting to see if it receives one of the NCAA at-large bids. The full NCAA III Tournament bracket will be announced on Monday morning at 11 a.m. (ET) on NCAA.com.
COACHES COMMENT: "Certainly a disappointing result. Credit Hope for getting one early. I felt we were not ourselves for the first 20 or so minutes of the game. Once we settled in, I thought we did some really good things, but just couldn't break through. Hopefully, our body of work creates an opportunity for us to play next weekend. I love this group and we really enjoy being together. We'd certainly relish the opportunity to continue."
