CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR NOV. 11, 2014
Men's Soccer Players Receive All-MIAA Honors - Vegter Named MVP / Stark Newcomer of Year / Men's Soccer Now Ranked Fourth Nationally / Volleyball Retains Top Spot in National Poll
MEN'S SOCCER
By Mark DeHaan
Eight members of the Calvin men's soccer team were named to the All-MIAA teams on Tuesday afternoon including six to the first team. The total of six first team selections matches the highest single-season total in school history, originally done by Calvin's 1970 squad. The Knights finished first in the conference with an unblemished 14-0 league record, winning both the regular season and conference tournament championships. Senior Travis Vegter was named MIAA MVP while freshman Mitch Stark was recognized as the MIAA Newcomer of the Year.
All-MIAA First Team
*Sean Broekhuizen - A graduate of South Christian High School and native of Grand Rapids, Broekhuizen is appearing on the All-MIAA First Team for the second straight year. In his senior season, Broekhuizen anchored a Calvin backline that allowed just three goals during MIAA play and 10 goals total. Broekhuizen was also a force on the offensive end, especially on set pieces, scoring seven goals and adding one assist. Broekhuizen was twice named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week during the season.
*Niko Giantsopoulos - A native of Markham, Ontario, junior Niko Giantsopoulos is being named first team All-MIAA for the second straight season, but his first year as a Knight. Giantsopoulos allowed just 10 goals in 19 total contests for a 0.54 goals-against-average, an average which decreased to 0.25 in league play as he allowed just three goals in his 12 appearances during the conference season. Giantsopoulos made 55 saves on the year and completed 11 shutouts. Giantsopoulos was recognized once this season as the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week.
*Nick Groenewold - A junior from Oak Brook, Illinois, and graduate of Timothy Christian High School, Groenewold paired with Broekhuizen as the Knights' centerback tandem to lead the Calvin defense to 13 total shutouts this year and a goals-against-average of 0.47 for the season. Groenewold is being given All-MIAA honors for the first time in his career.
*Stephan Hooker - Stephan Hooker is making his first appearance on the All-MIAA first team this season. A sophomore from Hudsonville and graduate of Unity Christian High School, Hooker was named to the second team last year while also being named the MIAA Newcomer of the Year. This season, Hooker was second on the Calvin squad with 11 goals while also adding three assists. Of his 11 goals, three were game winners for the Knights.
*Taylor Pruis - Pruis is a junior from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and product of Grand Rapids Christian High School. Pruis is being honored on the All-MIAA first team for the second straight year. The speedy winger tallied seven goals and three assists on the season. Interestingly, Pruis scored two goals this season with just one second remaining on the clock, first versus Hope, and also against Olivet. Pruis was recognized as the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week once this season.
*Travis Vegter - A senior from Hudsonville, Michigan, and a graduate of Unity Christian High School, Vegter is receiving the MIAA MVP for the second consecutive year after leading the MIAA in scoring for the third straight season. This year, Vegter totaled 44 points on 19 goals and six assists in 14 league contests, and 23 goals and 10 assists in 21 games overall. Vegter is being honored as a member of the first team All-MIAA for the third straight year, and during the season, Vegter was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week five times.
All-MIAA Second Team
*Reed Bowden - A native of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, senior Reed Bowden is being honored as an All-MIAA performer for the first time in his career. After starting the past two seasons at centerback, Bowden moved to leftback this year and was a threat to push up the field at any time. Bowden started all 21 contests for the Knights this season, tallying six assists, good for third best on the team.
*Isky Van Doorne - A sophomore from Calgary, Alberta, Van Doorne is being recognized as an All-MIAA selection for the first time in his career. Van Doorne paced Calvin with 10 assists this season while adding four goals. Van Doorne was dangerous from set pieces, taking a majority of the Knights' corner kicks while also providing a distributing presence in the central midfield. In the final week of the season, Van Doorne was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week.
Newcomer of the Year
*Mitch Stark - a native of South Lyon, Michigan and graduate of South Lyon High School, freshman Mitch Stark was named MIAA Newcomer of the year. Stark tallied three goals and four assists in starting 16 games and appearing in all 21 for the Knights.
MORE MEN'S SOCCER
The Calvin men's soccer team will enter NCAA III Tournament play with its highest national ranking of the season. The Knights are ranked fourth in the final NSCAA Division III Top 25 poll of the year, up two spots from last week's poll.
The NSCAA Division III Top 25 poll can be found online at: http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/3954/NCAADivisionIII/men/Poll11
VOLLEYBALL
The Calvin women's volleyball team will enter NCAA III Tournament play as the number-one ranked team in the country. The Knights have been the top-ranked team in the final three polls of the regular season.
Hope is ranked second followed by Cal Lutheran, Wittenberg and Emory.
The latest AVCA Division III Top 25 poll can be found online at: http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-three-women/poll-11-11-14/
Received on Tue Nov 11 19:53:01 2014
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