CSR (Men's Soccer Falls to Hope In Double Overtime)

MEN’S SOCCER
Hope 1, Calvin 0 (2OT)
(written by Calvin sports information student assistant Derek Neice)

HOLLAND -- Last second goals are always the hardest to bear, especially in a
match-up that features two such rivals as Calvin and Hope. And this is what
the Knights had to do Tuesday night as they suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss
to the Dutchmen in a double-overtime thriller.

In the first ever Calvin-Hope game held at Hope’s brand new Van Andel Soccer
Stadium there was a good turnout from both sides of the rivalry with many
alumni, parents, and students coming out and enduring the cold to cheer their
teams on to victory under the bright lights.

Regulation was relatively one-sided as Calvin clearly controlled possession,
but finishing was again a problem for the Knights, and regulation time would
end at 0-0. Calvin then played a man short for much of the two overtime
sessions after a Calvin player was whistled for a second yellow card. With a
man advantage, Hope began to pressure and broke through for the win in the
second overtime with a volley from freshman Jeff Ekdom off a corner kick with
just 4:08 left on the clock.

Calvin outshot the Dutchmen 17-6 during regulation with a 10-3 shots-on-goal
advantage.

Calvin came close in the first half after shot by sophomore Tyler Vegter
(Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) beat Hope goalkeeper Logan Neil was cleared
off the backline by a Hope defender. Early in the second half, Calvin junior
Brad Heethuis (Jenison/Unity Christian HS) ripped a shot in the box that caught
the crossbar and came straight down before being cleared out by the Hope
defense.

Even playing with a man down in overtime, Calvin still put together some very
impressive offensive attacks. The ball just could not find the net. Sophomore
Jared Rushlau (Grandville/Grandville HS) also helped to keep the Knights in the
hunt, finishing with five saves including a pair of brilliant stops that kept
the Dutchmen out of the goal in overtime play.

“The kids gave their hearts,” Coach Hughes said after the match, “even
with a man down we had some real good offensive possession. We had a ton of
shots with a couple good opportunities in front of the net, but again it’s
the game of soccer, you have to put one of those away. I also want to give
credit to Hope. They kept plugging away and capitalized on a big chance in
overtime.”

Hope’s goal occurred with four minutes left in the second overtime when a
corner kick was cleared to the top of the box, right to Ekdom. The freshman
forward settled the ball before launching a shot that deflected off a defender
attempting to guard the far post and into the top shelf of the net, leaving the
Calvin players and fans stunned.

“Fortunately for us we get to play them again at our place,” Hughes said,
already thinking about the rematch that will take place at Calvin on November
7th. “This is a good little wake-up call just in reference to the fact that
we have to finish out the season strong.”

Calvin falls to 10-2-1 overall on the season with a 5-1-1 MIAA record. The
loss Tuesday was their first conference loss of the season. Hope moved back
into first place in the MIAA with the win. The Knights look to be back on the
winning side of things on October 17th when they travel to Alma College.
Calvin’s home rematch against Hope, the last game of the regular season, will
take place on November 7th.

Calvin returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Alma for a 2:30 p.m.
match

MIAA MEN’S SOCCER STANDINGS THROUGH 10-13-09 GAMES

Calvin 5-1-1
Hope 5-1-1
Olivet 4-2-1
Albion 4-3-0
Kalamazoo 3-4-0
Adrian 2-3-2
Trine 2-4-1
Alma 0-7-0
Received on Wed Oct 14 00:07:39 2009