CSR (Joel Veldhouse Named MIAA Men's Soccer MVP)

November 10, 2004

VELDHOUSE NAMED MIAA MEN'S SOCCER MVP * EIGHT CALVIN PLAYERS RECEIVE ALL-MIAA HONORS

For the second time in his career, Calvin senior Joel Veldhouse has been named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in men's soccer. A midfielder, Veldhouse hails from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is a graduate of Sioux Falls Christian High School.

It also marks the third straight year that a member of the Calvin men's soccer team has received the award as Kurt Visker was so honored a year ago.

Veldhouse led the MIAA in scoring this year with 15 goals, 10 assists and 40 points in conference games. Veldhouse concluded his Calvin career with 80 points in conference play which ranks ninth on the MIAA career scoring list. During the 2004 season, Veldhouse was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week three times.

In addition, Veldhouse has been named to the All-MIAA first team for the third straight year. He is joined on the first team by four of his teammates * three of which hail from Grand Rapids Christian High School. The Grand Rapids Christian trio include Calvin senior midfielder Joel Vande Kopple, junior goalkeeper Joe Westra and junior defensive back Kurt Visker. Also named to the All-MIAA first team from Calvin is junior sweeper back Peter Malefyt.

Vande Kopple is receiving All-MIAA first team accolades for the third straight year. He scored seven goals and notched 17 points in conference play to rank tied for fifth in the league in goals and tied for sixth in points. In Saturday's 1-0 MIAA title-clinching win over Hope, Vande Kopple scored the game-winning goal with just 3:45 left in regulation.

Visker is also making his third straight appearance on the All-MIAA first team. He helped key a Calvin defense that allowed just one goal in 14 league games to establish a new MIAA single-season record. He was also credited with a goal and two assists in league play including the assist on Vande Kopple's game-winning goal Saturday afternoon.

Westra and Malefyt are receiving All-MIAA first team accolades for the first time and were also part of Calvin's record setting defense this fall. Westra and Malefyt were both named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week twice this year. Westra posted a miniscule 0.09 goals-against-average in league games this year and was credited with 11 of Calvin's 13 shutout victories in league play. In addition to his defensive duties, Malefyt also picked up two assists in conference play.

Named to the All-MIAA second team from Calvin are junior strikers Levi Kool and Matt Cosnek and junior stopper back John VanWylen.

Kool is from Holland and is a graduate of Holland Christian High School. He recorded two goals and four assists in league play. Cosnek is from Hopewell, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Hopewell High School. Cosnek picked up six goals, four assists and 16 points in league play to finish tied for eighth in the league in goals, tied for fourth in assists and tied for sixth in points. He was also named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week once.

VanWylen is the fifth Grand Rapids Christian High School graduate to receive All-MIAA honors. He was also part of Calvin's record-setting defense this fall.

Also receiving honorable mention recognition from the MIAA coaches are sophomores Nick Capisciolto and Maurice Wright. Capisciolto is from Hudsonville and is a graduate of Unity Christian High School. Wright is from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and is a graduate of Wauwatosa East High School.

Calvin is currently 18-1-1 overall and ranked sixth nationally. Calvin will host Wartburg College of Iowa (18-1-2) in a second round NCAA III Tournament game Saturday at noon at Calvin Field.

Calvin gained a bid to the NCAA III Tournament by winning its first outright MIAA title since 1987 this fall, posting a 13-1-0 conference record.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Nov 10 22:33:02 2004