Multiple Calvin Teams Advance to NCAA Tournament
While it won’t show up on the schedule at the beginning of the season, fans have come to expect that a number of Calvin Knights’ athletic teams each year will be playing well into November.
This fall is no different. Five teams are already NCAA Bound. Women’s triathlon already competed in nationals and finished fifth overall. The men’s and women’s cross-country teams and the men’s and women’s soccer teams will begin NCAA postseason action this coming weekend. (Note: The women’s volleyball team will find out if it’s NCAA bound following the MIAA tournament this weekend.)
The Knights have already captured 11 NCAA Division III National Titles in the institution’s storied history (this doesn’t include individual titles won by Calvin athletes). The Knights have also finished in the top four at the NCAA level 54 times in eight different sports, 27 of those as national runners-up.
Follow all the Knights' teams competing in NCAA postseason action November 15 & 16. Stay updated at calvinknights.com.
Women’s Soccer
The women’s soccer team is making its fourth straight appearance in the NCAA III Tournament after finishing its season unbeaten over its final 14 games. The Knights, who claimed both the regular season and tournament titles for their league, haven’t lost since early September.
The Knights begin NCAA play on their home field in a four-team regional. Calvin (14-2-2) faces Greenville University (11-7-2) in the opening round Friday at 2 p.m. ET, while University of Chicago (10-6-2) takes on Lawrence University (15-4-2) play at 4:30 p.m. ET. Friday’s winners will play at 5 p.m. on Saturday in the regional final. All games are being played at Zuidema Field on Calvin’s campus.
The Knights are 16-10-5 all-time in the NCAA III Tournament, reaching the national quarterfinals in 2006, 2009 and 2015. Last season, the Knights reached the Sweet 16.
Ticket prices are: $10 for General Admission, $6 for senior citizens, $6 for students & $5 for children ages 3-12. These are all single session tickets. Tickets will be available at the gate the day of the game.
Men’s Soccer
The Calvin men’s soccer team is making its 10th straight appearance in the NCAA III Tournament, carrying an unbeaten streak of eight games into NCAA III Tournament play. The Knights officially punched their ticket by winning their league tournament last week.
The Knights will compete this weekend in a four-team regional on the campus of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Calvin (14-5-2) will face Hamilton College of New York (7-6-3) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET. The other first-round matchup, at 11 a.m. ET, features Kenyon (12-3-3) and Spalding University (11-7-2). Friday's winners will meet in the regional final on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
The men’s soccer team is 39-21-7 all-time in NCAA III Tournament play. The Knights advanced to the national semifinals in 2015 and 2019 and to the NCAA III Finals in 2009, 2011, 2016 and 2018.
Cross Country Teams
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams both qualified for the NCAA III Great Lakes Regional Meet scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 16, in Shelbyville, Indiana (hosted by Franklin College).
The women’s team is ranked 20th nationally and is the top-ranked team in the Great Lakes Region. The men’s time is ranked 27th nationally and is the second-ranked team in its region.
The women’s team captured its 2nd straight MIAA title this season, posting a first-place team score of 29 points at the MIAA Championships. The title was Calvin's first MIAA outright crown since 2014.
The men’s team captured an impressive 37th consecutive league title, which is the longest active winning streak among all sports in its league.