CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR SEPT. 20, 2008
Cross Country Teams Win Knight Invite Titles;
Men's Soccer Wins Behind Penalty Kick Goal and Cline Saves;
Men's Golf Sixth at MIAA Outing #4
Women's Golf Ninth at MIAA Outing #2
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
By Chaz Amidon '09
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - For many senior runners like Jed Christiansen,
Saturday’s Knight Invitational marked their final collegiate race at
Gainey Sports Complex - home to Calvin’s men’s and women’s cross country
squads.
But it also marked the beginning to a promising 2008 season, as Christiansen
(Greenville, Penn.) helped to bolster a first-place finish for the men’s team
while sophomore Jessica Koster (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and senior Lauren
Bergstrom (Rochester, Minn.) paced the women to a similar outcome.
“It was a good training run for later in the season,” said Christiansen.
“We had to get out there and do some things today, working in our packs
and practicing it now so we can do it later in the season when it really
counts.”
Each ranked No. 2 in the country heading into Saturday’s season-opening
meet, the men’s and women’s teams overcame sweltering mid-morning
temperatures against several prestigious programs, including Case Western
Reserve, Grand Valley State University, Ohio Northern, and UW-Oshkosh.
“You can get psyched out easier in the heat, and it’s great that everyone
stayed focused and went at it,” said Christiansen.
While the women ran a 5K course, the men ran an 8K trek spanning to and from
every corner of Gainey grounds.
Christiansen, a returning All-American, was awarded with first-place honors,
crossing the finish line with a time of 25:10. Senior Nate DeHaan (Byron
Center, Mich.) came in third place, followed closely by a fellow-senior, Erik
VanKampen (Elmhurst, Ill.), who placed fifth.
Calvin’s clustered top-ten finish also included a seventh-place outing from
sophomore Jake Christiansen (New Ipswich, NH) and an eighth-place performance
from junior George Visser (Winfield, Ill.).
“Everybody ran with heart,” coach Brian Diemer said of the men’s season
debut. “We’re on the right track, but I also saw a little bit of work we
have to do.
“We did have a good start - I wouldn’t say a great start. It’s early in
the year and we can’t really do a whole lot of comparing. What we can do is
look at our guys, how they’re adjusting to school and homework, if they’re
getting enough sleep, are they adjusting to training.”
On the women’s side, Koster cruised to a second-place finish while Bergstrom
sailed past the line right on her heals, each garnering times of 17:57.
Senior Calah Schlabach (St. Michaels, Ariz.) notched seventh-place honors, and
juniors Jessi Hale (Rehoboth, NM) and Elizabeth Smit (Kirkland, Wash.) came up
with 10th and 11th place finished, respectively.
“The women are learning to run better as packs,” said Diemer. “That will
help make us stronger if we can get that adjusted a little bit. But we are very
strong, very deep. We have a lot of potential to go far and I’m really
excited.”
The Knights will travel to Saint Mary’s next Friday, Sept. 26, for the MIAA
Jamboree, one of two conference meets that will significantly dictate the final
season standings in November.
“Today was the dress rehearsal and we’re going to take things
meet-by-meet,” said Bergstrom. “The focus is for November, for the National
Championships. But we still have to take it day-by-day.”
For race results, a photo gallery and MP3 audio files with members of the
Calvin cross country teams and coaching staff, please visit the Calvin web site
at: http://www.calvin.edu/sports/mens/cross-country/invitational.htm
MEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 1, Ohio Northern 0
ADA, OH -- Calvin picked up a much-needed win on the road Saturday afternoon,
defeating host Ohio Northern 1-0 on the second day of competition at the
OAC/MIAA Shootout.
Calvin will carry a 3-3 record into its MIAA opener Wednesday afternoon
against Albion College at Calvin's Zuidema Field.
In its win over Ohio Northern (7-2-0), Calvin fought off a first half
offensive surge by the opposition as the Polar Bears outshot Calvin 9-3
including 8-1 in the opening 25 minutes. Calvin senior goalkeeper Darrin Cline
(Grandville/Grandville HS) kept the Knights in the game however with five first
half saves.
With Cline allowing Calvin to hang in the game, the Knights grabbed a 1-0 lead
on a penalty kick goal by sophomore Scott Hooker (Hudsonville/Unity Christian
HS). The goal was Hooker's team-leading fourth goal of the year.
Ohio Northern nearly tied the game midway through the second half but a shot
by Greg Stawicki of the Polar Bears off a corner kick play was cleared off the
backline by Calvin sophomore back Lucas Wilgenburg (Visalia, CA/Central Valley
Christian HS). Ohio Northern continued on to collect four additional corner
kicks in the final 22 minutes of play but could not dent the Calvin net.
Ohio Northern finished the game with a 22-8 shots at goal advantage but Cline
came up with a career-high 11 saves. Aaron Collins of Ohio Northern was
credited with two saves.
Calvin's game against Albion on Wednesday is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.
MEN’S GOLF
ADRIAN - The Calvin men’s golf team took sixth at the MIAA outing hosted by
Adrian on Saturday at the Lenawee Country Club. Calvin posted a score of 311
strokes.
Calvin remains in fifth place in the overall MIAA standings and now sits 12
strokes behind fourth place Albion.
Olivet took first place on Saturday with a score of 291 strokes, one stroke
better than runner-up Trine. Hope was third (296), Albion fourth (302) and Alma
fifth (309).
Calvin’s top individual finisher on Saturday was sophomore Jess Hendriksma
(Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) with a round of 75 that was good for a
tie for 15th place. Next for Calvin was sophomore Matt Marks (Byron
Center/South Christian HS) with a 77 (20th place) and junior Jon Kuiper (Grand
Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) with a 78 (23rd place).
Rounding out Calvin’s finishers were sophomore Eric Doezema (Grand
Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) with an 80 and junior Aaron Hargett (Lake
Odessa/Lake Odessa-Lakewood HS) with an 81.
Calvin returns to action next Saturday when it competes at an MIAA outing
hosted by Trine at the Zollner Golf Club.
MIAA OUTING #4 TEAM SCORES
OLIVET 291
TRINE 292
HOPE 296
ALBION 302
ALMA 309
CALVIN 311
KALAMAZOO 313
ADRIAN 319
WOMEN’S GOLF
ANGOLA, IN - Calvin took ninth at an MIAA outing hosted by Trine University
Saturday afternoon at the Zollner Golf Club, recording a team score of 394
strokes.
Olivet took first place with a team score of 309 strokes.
Calvin’s top finisher was junior Kelli Visser (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids
Christian HS) with an 85 that was good for 19th place. Next for Calvin was
junior Emily Tuuk (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) with an 89 (27th
place) with freshman Kelsey Kolk (Jenison.Unity Christian HS) firing a round of
99 and freshman Katy Berghuis () a 121.
Amber Conrad of Olivet was Saturday’s medalist with a score of 74.
Calvin returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts MIAA Outing #3. The outing
will be held at the Thornapple Pointe Golf Club beginning at 1:00 p.m.
MIAA OUTING #2 TEAM SCORES
OLIVET 310
SAINT MARY’S 329
HOPE 332
TRINE 344
ALBION 361
KALAMAZOO 363
ADRIAN 391
CALVIN 394
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Sep 20 23:32:35 2008
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