GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The 20th-ranked Calvin University men's soccer team recorded a 5-2 win over Aquinas College as part of Homecoming Saturday at the Calvin Soccer Stadium.
Calvin (6-1-1) was in control throughout but had to fight off several Aquinas (4-5-0) comeback attempts before pulling away late in the contest.
The Knights opened the scoring with the help of an own goal by the Saints in the 18th minute off a cross by
Matt Torrell (Webster, N.Y./The Charles Finney School/Liberty University), and Torrell pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 32nd minute on a shot from outside the box for his fifth goal of the season.
The Saints came back and put pressure on the Knights immediately, ringing one shot off the post and then scoring in the 42nd minute to cut the Calvin advantage to 2-1 at the half.
Pol Sabe (Barcelona, Spain/Col-legi Montserrat) pushed the Calvin lead back to two with a header off a free kick from
Jake Ziolo (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) in the 61st minute, but the Saints once again cut the Knights' lead to one with a goal in the 72nd minute.
Calvin controlled play for much of the second half and added to its lead with a goal by
Zach Heisler (Saline, Mich./Saline) off an assist from
Saunder Sotok (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa) in the 78th minute.
Chase Alexandre (Brighton, N.Y./Brighton/Robert Morris University) put the game away in the 86th minute off an assist from
Colin Nieuwenhuis (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) to finish off the 5-2 win.
The goals by Sabe and Alexandre were their third of the season, while Heisler's tally was his first collegiate goal.
The Knights out-shot the Saints 17-12 overall and 10-6 in shots on goal.
John Hargett (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy) stopped four shots in goal for Calvin.
COACH'S COMMENT: "What a day for Calvin athletics! So fun to welcome so many back and to open Knight Stadium," head coach
Ryan Souders said. "What a great atmosphere today! As far as the game, I felt like we had some really good moments and some ones that we will need to learn from; and quickly. But never going to be upset about three points at home!"
NEXT UP: Calvin men's soccer will return to action on Tuesday, September 29, when it hosts Cornerstone University in a non-conference match scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.
