CALVIN KNIGHT SATURDAY SPORTS REPORT FOR OCT. 27, 2012
**Editor's Note: On Saturday, Calvin clinched outright titles in men's soccer
and men's and women's cross country and clinched a share of the MIAA regular
season title in women's soccer. On Friday, Calvin clinched the outright MIAA
title in volleyball. Earlier in the month, Calvin captured the MIAA regular
season title in men's golf. Calvin has now won six MIAA titles this fall,
marking the first time in league history that a school has captured six MIAA
titles in one sports season. Calvin's previous high-water mark for
championships in one sports season was five, established in 2007 & 2010.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
By Mitch Blankespoor
ALBION – The Calvin College men’s and women’s cross country teams ran in the
second of two MIAA Jamborees Saturday morning hosted by Albion College. Both
Knights’ teams were victorious and captured the MIAA Championship.
The men’s race was first off at 11:00am. The Knights finished in the top four
spots. Senior Dan Kerr (Petosky/Petosky) paced Calvin running the eight
kilometer course in 24:37. Two fellow seniors, David VandeBunte (Byron
Center/Byron Center) and Job Christiansen (New Ipswich, NH/Mascenic Regional)
finished together with a time of 24:49. Junior Greg Whittle (Galesburg,
IL/Galesburg) finished fourth with a time of 24:58.
Calvin finished with 20 points as a team. Hope finished second with 75
points. This was the 26th consecutive MIAA championship for the Calvin men’s
cross country program.
“We packed the race very well,” Calvin head coach Brian Diemer said. “It was
really nice to see all the guys run well, and accomplish their goal of winning
a conference championship and continuing the success of the program.”
Calvin had nine runners make All-MIAA. Kerr, Christiansen, VandeBunte and
Rhett Morici (St. Charles, IL/St. Charles North) were named to the All-MIAA
First Team. Sophomores Steven Haagsma (Grandville/Calvin Christian) and Josh
Ferguson (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley), juniors Sam Kirk (Hartland, WI/Lake
Country Lutheran) and Philip Spitzer (Buckley/Buckley) and senior Kevin
Peterson (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) were named to the All-MIAA
Second Team.
Kerr was named Most Valuable Runner for the second consecutive year.
The women’s race began at noon. Calvin had four finishers in the top eight,
taking first, second, sixth and seventh. Junior Nicole Michmerhuizen
(Holland/Holland Christian) won the five kilometer race with a time of 21:49.
Senior Alyssa Penning was right behind, finishing second with a time of 22:06.
Defending conference champion Hope had the next three spots. Sophomores Katie
Ardinger (Elmhurst, IL/Timothy Christian) and Kimby Penning (Grand Rapids/Grand
Rapids Christian) secured Calvin’s victory, finishing sixth and seventh
respectively with times of 22:24 for Ardinger and 22:26 for Penning.
The Knights finished with 26 points, 11 ahead of defending champion Hope.
Calvin had seven runners make All-MIAA teams on the women’s side.
Michmerhuizen, Alyssa and Kimby Penning, freshmen Mackenzie Diemer
(Caledonia/South Christian) and junior Alyssa Oram (Cheboygan, WI/Home
schooled) earned spots on the All-MIAA First Team. Ardinger and Christine
Hartley (Pewaukee, WI/Lake County Lutheran) were named to the All-MIAA Second
Team.
Michmerhuizen was named Most Valuable Runner.
“Nicole [Michmerhuizen] was as solid as a rock today,” said Diemer. “She just
kept on grinding, and during the second loop the competition fell off.”
Both teams will return to action at NCAA Regionals November 10, hosted by
Anderson University, IN.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Calvin 2, Hope 0
By Mark DeHaan
Looking to bounce back after a loss at Kalamazoo on Thursday, the Knights
women's soccer team played strong on their way to a 2-0 victory over rival Hope
on Senior Day. With the 2-0 victory, the Knights clinched a share of the MIAA
title and a record sixth MIAA regular season title for Calvin sports teams this
fall. The Knights also clinch a spot in next week’s four-team MIAA Tournament
although the top seed for the league tournament is still up for grabs.
The game was played very close from the opening kick. Neither team had a
strong opportunity on net until about the 30th minute, when a deflection off
the foot of a Calvin defender kept the game scoreless.
A long ball was sent through the Calvin defense to the top of the Knights box.
Calvin junior goalie Ashton Hearn, a Knights defender, and a Hope attacker all
converged on the ball at once. A scrum ensued, and the ball then bounced out to
Hope forward Lindsey Bieri who was standing about 25 yard away from net. Bieri
sent the ball toward frame, but a deflection off a Calvin defender pushed the
ball wide, keeping the game tied at 0-0.
Calvin broke the scoreless tie in the 42nd minute. A cross from senior
Francesca Smith into the Hope box bounced around then found the foot of
freshman Abby Ploeg. Ploeg then put a driving ball on net that deflected off a
Flying Dutch defender and into the back of the goal for a 1-0 Calvin lead.
The Knights took this 1-0 lead into halftime despite a 2-6 shots disadvantage
and a Hope 5-2 advantage on corner kicks.
In second half play, Calvin extended its lead with a nifty give-and-go between
freshman Taylor TenHarmsel and junior Kelly Koets. The give from Koets found
TenHarmsel at the top of the Hope box, who sent Koets into space with a pass
that split two Flying Dutch defenders. All alone in the box, Koets put a shot
into the far netting past the charging Hope keeper to push Calvin's lead to
2-0.
Strong defense in the second half from the Calvin freshman back line saw the
Flying Dutch only tally three shots total and a single shot on net. This
stifling defense allowed Calvin to close out the 2-0 victory.
Ashton Hearn earned the clean sheet in net for the Knights, making three saves
in net. Calvin built an 11-9 shots advantage in the game, 9-3 in the second
half.
“We were disheartened by the outcome (Thursday) at Kalamazoo,” said Calvin
women’s soccer coach Mark Recker. “I think we put more pressure on ourselves
coming into this game than we wanted to, but maybe it was the pressure that
really paid dividends for us. When your team commits to a specific strategy for
the game, executes that strategy, gets a lead and then closes out the lead, you
can't ask them for much more. It really is a team effort in what has been
accomplished, because this team has worked so hard to be the team that they are
with such youth on the field.”
The win elevates Calvin to 11-3-1 in the MIAA and 12-4-1 overall. Hope drops
to 9-4-2 in conference and 12-5-2 overall. Calvin's final regular season game
is Wednesday when its travels to Adrian to face the Bulldogs with the first
kick slated for 4 p.m. The match will be a showdown for the MIAA title as
Adrian is just three points behind Calvin in the league standings and could
gain a share of the league title and gain the top seed for the league
tournament with a win over the Knights.
MIAA WOMEN’S SOCCER STANDINGS THROUGH 10-27-12 GAMES
Calvin 11-3-1 (34 points)
Adrian 9-2-4 (31 points)
Alma 9-4-2 (29 points)
Hope 9-4-2 (29 points)
Kalamazoo 9-4-2 (29 points)
Saint Mary’s 9-5-1 (28 points)
Olivet 4-12-0 (12 points)
Albion 0-13-2 (2 points)
Trine 0-13-2 (2 points)
MEN’S SOCCER
Calvin 2, Adrian 2
ADRIAN – Calvin clinched the outright MIAA regular season title with a 2-2
double-overtime tie at Adrian Saturday afternoon. It marks the third time in
four years that Calvin has fought Adrian to a tie at Adrian’s Performance
Stadium.
In Saturday’s games, Calvin came from behind to take a 2-1 lead but then saw
Adrian tie the game in the closing minutes of regulation. The tie snaps
Calvin’s 12-game win streak but the Knights maintain an unbeaten streak of
13 games heading into their regular season finale at Alma on Tuesday.
Calvin outshot Adrian 25-10 in Saturday’s match but the Bulldogs struck first,
scoring off a free kick in the 41st minute of play as Travis Smith headed in a
shot off a service into the box by teammate Pat Bradley.
Calvin picked up the pressure early in the second half and tied the game at
one on an unassisted goal by sophomore Travis Vegter (Hudsonville/Unity
Christian HS) in the 66th minute of play.
The Knights then took a 2-1 lead with just 6:36 left in regular as freshman
Taylor Pruis (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) kicked in a rebound shot
that came back to him after originally striking the post.
Adrian answered right back however as Nick Minshell headed in a crossing pass
from Ryan McCarthy just 54 seconds later to knot the score at two.
Calvin outshot Adrian 6-1 in the two overtime sessions but Adrian goalkeeper
Niko Giantsopoulous had four overtime saves. Giantsopoulous had 11 saves in
nets for Adrian while Calvin goalkeeper Jared Rushlau (Grandville/Grandville
HS) had four saves.
Calvin (13-3-1 overall, 11-1-1 MIAA) will travel to Alma on Tuesday for a 4
p.m. match. The Knights will then host an MIAA Tournament semifinal match on
Thursday at 3 p.m. at Calvin’s Zuidema Field against an opponent yet to be
determined.
MIAA MEN’S SOCCER STANDINGS THROUGH 10-27-12
Calvin 11-1-1 (34 points)
Olivet 10-3-0 (30 points)
Hope 9-4-0 (27 points)
Kalamazoo 8-5-0 (24 points)
Trine 5-7-1 (16 points)
Adrian 4-8-1 (13 points)
Alma 3-9-1 (10 points)
Albion 0-13-0 (0 points)
VOLLEYBALL
Calvin 3, Albion 0
By Mitch Blankespoor
ALBION – The Calvin College volleyball team concluded the regular season
Saaturday with a straight set victory over the Britons of Albion College by
scores of 25-15, 25-11, 25-15. The win for the Knights is their 36th straight
MIAA conference victory.
Calvin was led offensively by Lizzie Kamp (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian
HS), who scored 16 kills on just 26 attempts. She hit a blistering .538 on the
match. Senior Julia Hilbrands (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) chipped in
nine kills and four blocks, two of the solo variety. Rietema dished out 29
assists. Calvin totaled 48 digs and seven blocks as a team.Albion was led on
senior day by Lauren DeLuyck with six kills.
With its win, Calvin improves to 26-2 and 16-0 in the MIAA on the season. This
tournament Warners speaks of will be hosted by Calvin. Second seeded Hope will
play third seeded Alma on Friday at 5:30 at the Van Noord Arena. Top seeded
Calvin will face fourth seeded Trine at 7:30.
FINAL MIAA REGULAR SEASON VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS FOR 2012
Calvin 16-0
Hope 14-2
Alma 9-7
Trine 9-7
Adrian 7-9
Saint Mary’s 7-9
Kalamazoo 6-10
Olivet 4-12
Albion 0-16
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
OLIVET – The Calvin men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams picked up
their first dual meet victories of the year on Saturday with the Calvin men
picking up a 162-124 victory while the Calvin were victorious 197-83.
Calvin had several standout performances in both competitions.
On the men’s side, freshman Caleb Meindertsma (Annondale, VA/Trinity Christian
HS) was a winner in the 1000 freestyle (10:14.33) to get the Knights off to a
quick start.
Freshman Aaron Vennema (Grand Haven/Grand Haven HS) and junior Andrew Mitchell
(Iron Mountain, MI/Kingsford HS) were both double-winners with Vennema winning
the 200 freestyle (1:46.77) and 500 freestyle (4:52.70) while Mitchell claimed
gold in the 100 backstroke (54.44) and 200 backstroke (2:03.86).
Other individual winners for Calvin included freshman Johnson Cochran (Mount
Vernon, OH/Mount Vernon HS) in the 100 breaststroke (59.06), senior Mark
Rushlow (Goshen, IN/Northridge HS) in the 100 butterfly (54.38) and sophomore
Travis Vincent (Novi, MI/Novi HS) in the 200 IM (2:03.53). Calvin’s 400
freestyle relay team of freshman Mitchell Schroder (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids
Christian HS), Mitchell, Vennema and sophomore Alex Baumann (Holland/Holland
Christian HS) won in a time of 3:17.47 while its 400 medley relay team of
Mitchell, Cochran, Rushlow and Baumann won in a time of 3:36.85.
On the women’s side, Calvin took first place in 13 events. Senior Stephanie
Fox (Kentwood, MI/Home Schooled) won the 1000 freestyle (11:03.60) and 100
freestyle (55.75) while freshman Michaela Rookus (Hudsonville/Hudsonville HS)
won the 100 breaststroke (1:10.17) and 200 breaststroke (2:31.84). In addition,
senior Shelby Cloyd (Kalamazoo/Plainwell HS) was a double-winner, claiming
first in the 200 butterfly (2:18.73) and 100 butterfly (1:02.90).
On the diving boards, senior Samantha Klaasen (Holland/Holland Christian HS)
won the one-meter competition (234.00) and three-meter competition (252.25).
Other Calvin winners included freshman Kathryn Wrobel (Arden Hills,
MN/Moundsview HS) in the 200 freestyle (2:00.79), sophomore Betsy Otten
(Sheboygan, WI/Sheboygan County Christian HS) in the 100 backstroke (1:04.33),
sophomore Erika Waugh (Berne, IN/South Adams HS) in the 200 backstroke
(2:15.04) and junior Margaret Rechel (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington HS) in
the 500 freestyle (5:36.57).
Calvin’s 400 medley relay team of Waugh, Rookus, Cloyd and Wrobel also claimed
a victory with a time of 4:11.58.
Both teams are back in action on November 2 for dual meets at Alma College (6
p.m.).
Received on Sat Oct 27 21:43:42 2012
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Sat Oct 27 2012 - 21:43:42 EDT