From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Tue Nov 11 2003 - 18:25:18 EST
Calvin Sports Report for November 11, 2003
KURT VISKER NAMED MIAA MEN'S SOCCER MVP
It's safe to say that what Nick Lidstrom means to the Detroit Wings hockey
team, Kurt Visker means to the Calvin men's soccer team. Over the past
decade, Lidstrom has provided a cool, calm defensive presence for the Red Wings
while providing the ability to score with a booming shot from the point.
A sophomore from Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High
School, Visker has provided a similar presence for the Knights, anchoring the
Calvin defense from his sweeper-back position while also providing the ability
to score timely goals with a booming shot from the back or on restart plays.
On Tuesday, Visker was recognized as the MIAA's men's soccer MVP, becoming
just the third defensive player in Calvin men's soccer history to receive the
award, joining former Calvin goaltender Don Buchholz who received the honor as
a senior in 1971 and defensive back Roger King who was so honored as a senior
in 1976. Visker is the 16th individual in Calvin men's soccer history to
receive the MIAA's MVP award in men's soccer. In 34 years of MIAA men's
soccer, a Calvin player has received the MIAA MVP award 17 times.
Visker anchored a Calvin defensive unit that allowed a league-best six goals
in MIAA play in conference play that included eight shutout victories. One of
those shutout victories was a 1-0 victory over Kalamazoo College on October 22
with Visker scoring the only goal of the game on a 35-yard blast on a direct
kick with just over 17 minutes remaining in regulation. The goal snapped a
Calvin scoreless streak of more than 700 minutes against the Hornets and also
helped the Knights defeat Kalamazoo for the first time since 1999.
"Kurt was obviously the rock in our defense this year," said Calvin
men's soccer coach Chris Hughes. "You don't see a defender winning
too many league MVP awards. For the rest of the league to recognize him like
this says a lot about his ability as a player."
A tri-captain for the Knights, Visker was also a big leader for Calvin this
fall. "Kurt's leadership abilities have been terrific," said Hughes.
"Kurt is a quiet guy but he leads by example and the rest of our team
really looks up to his leadership."
In addition to receiving the MVP award, Visker was named to the All-MIAA first
team for the second straight year along with teammates Joel Veldhouse and Joel
Vande Kopple. Named to the All-MIAA second team from Calvin were senior
marking back Mike Standfest, sophomore goalkeeper Joe Westra and freshman
midfielder Nick Capisciolto.
Veldhouse and Vande Kopple are both receiving All-MIAA first team honors for
the second straight year. Veldhouse is a senior forward from Sioux Falls,
South Dakota and a graduate of Sioux Falls Christian High School. A three-time
MIAA Offensive Player of the Week over the last two years, Veldhouse finished
third in the MIAA scoring race with 16 points on the strength of six goals and
four assists. Of his six goals in league contests, two were game-winners.
Although a senior academically, Veldhouse carries junior athletic eligibility
and will return to Calvin for his final season of collegiate soccer next fall.
Vande Kopple is a junior midfielder from Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand
Rapids Christian High School. During the year, he was named MIAA Offensive
Player of the Week once as he served a key ball distributor for the Knights on
offense while also providing strong defensive play.
Standfest is from Williamsburg and is a graduate of Elk Rapids High School. A
four-year member of the Calvin varsity, Standfest was named MIAA Defensive
Player of the Week once and was also a key member of Calvin's stingy defense.
A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School,
Westra was the backstop of Calvin's defense in goal as he pitched eight
conference shutouts and finished with a season goals-against-average of 0.80.
Capisciolto is another local product as he hails from Hudsonville and is a
graduate of Unity Christian High School. Capisciolto scored four goals and
picked up three assists in league play this fall for the Knights to finish 10th
in the MIAA scoring race with 11 points. Of her four goals in league games,
two proved to be game-winners including the only goal in a 1-0 win over MIAA
Co-Champion Hope on October 11.
Also receiving honorable mention recognition from the MIAA coaches were
sophomore marking back Peter Malefyt and sophomore stopper back John VanWylen.
Malefyt is from Lansing and a is a graduate of Lansing Christian High School.
During the year, he received MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors once.
VanWylen is from Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High
School. Like Malefyt, VanWylen also received MIAA Defensive Player of the Week
honors once during the year.
Calvin finished the season 15-5-0 overall and gained a share of its first MIAA
championship since 1999 by posting a 10-2-0 league mark. The Knights shared
the final MIAA crown with Hope which finished 9-1-2 in the conference. The
MIAA men's soccer title was the 16th in Calvin history with the Knights
holding more MIAA men's soccer titles than any other league school with
Kalamazoo second with 13 league crowns.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
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