ANGOLA, Ind. – Calvin opened its MIAA campaign with an exciting 8-7 victory at Trine University Wednesday night. The Calvin victory snapped a six-game Trine win streak.

Calvin improves to 8-2 overall and more importantly to 1-0 in the MIAA with the win.

A year ago, the two teams met twice and both contests were tight affairs with Calvin defeating Trine 13-12 in a regular season contest and the Thunder handing Calvin a 10-9 defeat in the MIAA Tournament.

Wednesday's contest featured more of the same.

Calvin led 2-0 after one quarter of play with Trine coming back to forge a 3-3 halftime tie. The teams were tied 5-5 after the third quarter but Calvin maintained possession down the stretch and scored the winning goal on a shot by freshman Braylon Moore (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) with just 1:33 left to play as he converted a feed from senior teammate Braden Carpenter (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville HS).

Calvin had fallen behind 6-5 early in the fourth but regained the lead at 7-6 on goals from sophomore Anson Gorski (Livonia, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) and junior Riley DeSarbo (Monroe, Mich./St. Mary's Catholic Central HS). The Gorski goal came on a man-up situation with 10:13 left in the fourth with junior Jordan Warners (Orange, Ca./Crean Lutheran HS) drawing an assist on the play that tied the game at six. DeSarbo then scored on an unassisted rush with 8:08 left.

Trine (10-2 overall, 0-1 MIAA) was whistled for a 30-second pushing penalty not long after, giving the Knights a chance to extend their lead. Trine was able to withstand two shots from Carpenter during ensuing sequence, allowing the Thunder to stay within one. Trine then tied the game at seven on a goal by Rocco Curatola with 4:08 left.

Calvin senior Nate Hanson (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) won the following faceoff. A Calvin shot on the possession sailed wide and shortly after, Trine regained the ball of a Knight turnover. Trine turned the ball over on its clearing attempt, allowing Calvin to set up for the go-ahead goal.

Calvin fired a shot at the Trine goal that sailed wide with under two minutes left but Carpenter was able to corral the ground ball and seconds later fed Moore for the eventual game-winning goal.
Hanson won the ensuing faceoff and scooped up the ground ball, allowing Calvin to burn more than a minute of the clock. Trine regained the ball in the closing seconds but could also toss a desperation long pass down the field that was intercepted by the Knights to seal the game.

Gorski had a big night for Calvin with two goals, an assist and three ground balls. Freshman Hudson Thiemann (Plano, Tx./Plano Senior HS) had a pair of goals for the Knights. Moore, DeSarbo, junior Teddy Hollebeek (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) had single goals. Carpenter had a goal and an assist. Freshman Brighton Kojetin (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville HS), Warners and senior David Blackmon (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North HS) all had one assist each.

Junior Sawyer Richards caused three opponent turnovers and scooped up three ground balls. Junior Drew Garrison (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) caused three opponent turnovers and was credited with four ground balls. Hanson was 9 of 17 on faceoffs and scooped up five ground balls.

Senior Soren Thiemann (Plano, Tx./Plano Senior HS) had 12 saves in goal for Calvin to pick up his eighth win of the season.

COACHES COMMENT: "It was a great team win against a fantastic (Trine) team tonight," said Calvin head men's lacrosse coach Dave Hoger. "Going in, we knew this game was going to be an absolute battle and it lived up to that. Our guys responded to every bit of adversity and committed to the plan. I'm really proud of their effort and grateful to be 1-0 to start conference play."

NEXT UP: Calvin will host Alma on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a contest that will serve as Senior Day. Calvin will honor the eight members of its senior class at the conclusion of the contest.