CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR SEPT. 27, 2008
Women's Soccer Rolls to Win at Hope;
Men's Soccer Pulls Out One-Goal Game at Alma;
Volleyball Splits MIAA Matches
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Calvin 5, Hope 0
HOLLAND – The Calvin women’s soccer team finished with a flourish at rival
Hope College Saturday afternoon, recording a 5-0 victory over the Flying Dutch
at the Buys Athletic Complex.
Saturday’s game marked the MIAA opener for both teams. Calvin has now won
five straight games against Hope including its last four in Holland.
During the non-conference portion of the season, Calvin has struggled with
finishing around the net. The Knights made no mistake on Saturday however,
scoring twice in the first half and three times in the second half.
“Part of the learning curve of our non-conference season has been learning
how to deal with the physicality of the game and finishing around the net even
while we are being challenged,” said Calvin women’s soccer coach Mark
Recker, a former All-MIAA forward for the Calvin men’s soccer team. “When
you get into conference play, it isn’t easy to put the ball in the back of
the net but you’ve got to find a way. I thought our mental focus today was
excellent, particularly when we were challenged around the net.”
Calvin jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by junior Emily Ottenhoff (Palos
Heights, IL/Chicago Christian HS) in the 11th minute of play with Ottenhoff
heading in a corner kick from senior Ashley Bolen (Urbana, IL/Urbana HS). The
Knights then took a 2-0 lead on a goal by senior Elizabeth Ribbens (Tinley
Park, IL/Victor J. Andrew High School). The play began with a quick throw-in by
senior Juliana Litts (Alexandria, VA/Thomas Jefferson HS) that sprung Ribbens
free on a breakaway up the right wing.
In the second half, a crossing pass from Ribbens found the foot of junior
Natalie Veurink (Spring Lake/Western Michigan Christian HS) who banged in her
first goal of the year. A few minutes later, Veurink set up sophomore Carly
Prins (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) for a goal with Prins ripping in a shot
while falling to the turf. Ribbens then closed out the scoring with an
unassisted goal with 8:59 left to play.
“I thought Natalie Veurink gave our team a big spark in the second half,”
said Recker. “She has been in the starting lineup but I felt like our team
needed a different rhythm earlier this week and Natalie did not get down about
the change but instead made the most of her opportunity. She is a special
player.”
Recker also had words of praise for junior midfielder Allison Boender
(Grandville/Calvin Christian HS). “Allison had a terrific defensive
performance in midfield today,” said Recker. “Hope has some dangerous
offensive weapons and Allison played a big role in keeping Hope off the
scoreboard today.”
Calvin finished the game with a 19-8 shots at goal advantage. Juniors Alyssa
Bergsma (Walker/Calvin Christian HS) and Kayla Sulzer (St. Charles,
MO/Whitfield HS) combined on the shutout in goal for the Knights Bergsma
picking up one save and Sulzer four saves.
Calvin returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to 6-2-1 Adrian for a
4:00 p.m. contest at Adrian’s Performance Stadium.
“Adrian is playing very well for its new coach,” said Recker. “I expect
our team to face a stiff challenge on Wednesday. We will have to prepare and be
ready to play.”
MEN’S SOCCER
Calvin 1, Alma 0
ALMA – Calvin remained unbeaten in MIAA play and stretched its win streak to
three games with a 1-0 victory at Alma Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Brad Heethuis (Jenison/Unity Christian HS) came off the bench to
score the game’s only goal, popping in a pass from former high school
teammate Scott Hooker (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) with 21 minutes left in
regulation.
The goal by Heethuis was the first of his collegiate career.
Calvin (5-3-0 overall, 2-0-0 MIAA) finished the game with a 27-9 shots at goal
advantage but Alma goalkeeper Anthony Bergstrom was able to keep his team in
the game by making eight saves.
Calvin senior goalkeeper Darrin Cline (Grandville/Grandville HS) was also up
to the task, posting his fourth shutout victory of the year including his third
straight, making two saves on Saturday.
Calvin will now prepare for a Tuesday trip to Kalamazoo where the Knights will
face Kalamazoo College at 4:00 p.m.
MIAA MEN’S SOCCER STANDINGS THROUGH 9-27-08
Calvin 2-0-0
Hope 2-0-0
Trine 2-0-0
Adrian 1-1-0
Kalamazoo 1-1-0
Albion 0-2-0
Alma 0-2-0
Olivet 0-2-0
VOLLEYBALL
GRAND RAPIDS -- Calvin split a pair of matches in Saturday’s MIAA triangular
match at the Huizenga Track and Tennis Center. The Knights swept fourth place
Saint Mary’s in three games and fell in a five game thriller to sixth place
Adrian. Calvin moves to 5-2 in league play and 11-4 overall.
Calvin’s outside and middle hitters, lead by freshman Rebecca Kamp’s
(Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian) 15 kills, were dominate in the first set
against Saint Mary’s, but Adrian recovered from a three -set sweep to the
Belles and shut down the Knights’ attack in the clutch in set two.
“Adrian played a really great defensive match,” said coach Amber Warners.
“There’s no replacing veteran players when things are on the line. This
team has a tendency to get down and then not know what to do. We’re working
on that emotional roller coaster.”
Calvin falls two wins behind first place Hope College (7-0 MIAA, 12-3
overall). Saint Mary’s (4-3 MIAA, 10-4 overall) remains in fourth place in
the conference and Adrian (3-5 MIAA, 7-9 overall) remains in sixth place.
After opening the Huizenga Track and Tennis Center with a 3-1 loss against
Hope College last Friday night, the Knights came out on fire against the
Belles. Calvin swept Saint Mary’s in three sets (25-14, 25-13, 25-12).
The Belles hung with the Knights through most of set one although they never
gained the lead. Saint Mary’s threatened to tie the game, but leading 10-9,
Calvin closed on a 15-5 run to win set one. Calvin didn’t let down in set two
jumping to a 5-1 lead and a 6-0 lead in set three. Calvin never trailed in the
match.
Senior Lauren DeGroot (Tulare, CA/Valley Christian HS) racked up 31 assists in
the sweep of Saint Mary’s. Kamps led with 15 kills. Junior hitter Sarah
Kramer (Dyer, IN/Illiana Christian) had seven kills and freshman Erin Vander
Plas (Cadillac/McBain Northern Michigan Christian) had six kills.
DeGroot moved into the setter role just over two weeks ago and credits her
hitters for the easy transition.
“It’s easy to fall into the position because I can trust my hitters a
lot,” said DeGroot. “The pressure of getting every set perfect is off
because I have talented hitters.”
The set also marks the first Calvin win in the new Huizenga Tennis and Track
Center.
“We have to get used to the heat (in the new facility). It’s the biggest
factor,” said DeGroot. “During practice the temperature varies so much. And
today it’s so hot that you sweat a lot and lose a lot of energy. But a court
is a court and it does feel like home.”
After Adrian was swept by Saint Mary’s they turned things around against the
Knights. Although they hung with Calvin in set one, they ultimately fell 25-23.
With set two tied 6-6, the Bulldogs went on a 3-0 run and never looked back for
a 25-21 win. Calvin and Adrian were tied at all but seven points in a thrilling
set three.
The Knights turned things around in set four to tie the match at two games
each. Calvin started on a 5-1 run in the set and never trailed. They won 25-19
with their backs against the wall to force a fifth set.
Set five remained close until the Bulldogs scored back to back points to take
a 7-5 lead. Adrian went on a 3-0 run to take a 12-7 and was able to close out
the set with a 15-12 win.
“When we would come back, (Adrian) would really dig well,” said Warners.
“We have to get better at the net. We just couldn’t stop them. If Adrian
had played against Saint Mary’s like they did against us, they would have
killed Saint Mary’s.”
Kamp had 30 kills against Adrian for a total of 45 on the afternoon. Freshman
Erin Vander Plas (Cadillac/McBain Northern Michigan Christian) had eleven kills
and freshman Renee DeHaan (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) had nine kills.
DeGroot amassed fifty-eight assists. Junior Kelsey Sears (Traverse
City/Traverse City West) led Calvin with 25 digs and Katie Corbett had 23
digs.
Calvin travels to fifth place Albion on Tuesday. The Knights’ next home
match will be October 7 against Trine.
MIAA VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 9-27-08
Hope 7-0
Alma 5-1
Calvin 5-2
Saint Mary’s 4-3
Albion 4-3
Adrian 3-5
Kalamazoo 2-6
Trine 2-7
Olivet 0-7
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Sep 27 23:05:34 2008
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Sat Sep 27 2008 - 23:05:35 EDT