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Knights Win Seventh Straight, Blank Alma 3-0
Saturday, October 06, 2012
GRAND RAPIDS – The Calvin men’s soccer team extended its win streak to six Saturday afternoon, defeating the Scots of Alma College 3-0 to improve to 7-3-0, 6-1-0 in the MIAA.The Knights opened up the scoring in the fourth minute. Sophomore Travis Vegter (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) split a pair of Alma defenders and sent a through ball far side to high school teammate, junior Zach Willis (Hudsonville/Unity Christian). Willis outran the defense, and beat Alma goalkeeper Graham Wallace far side to give Calvin a 1-0 lead. Despite having the lead, Calvin kept up the pressure. Vegter had a two more shots, both of which went left of target. In the 23rd minute, the Knights swung the ball to the near side senior Chris Nance (Washington/DeLaSalle). Nance sent a low cross to the back post. Willis was right there, netting his fifth goal of the season and giving the Knights a 2-0 lead. Calvin did not wait long to open the scoring in the second half. 13 minutes into the second half, junior Ben Honeycutt (Grandviile/South Christian) fed a ball to Nance on the fall side of the 18-yard box. Nance chipped Wallace, scoring his second goal of the season. The Knights held their 3-0 lead till the end.
Men’s Soccer Extends Win Streak With 3-1 Win Over Adrian
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
(Photo by Paul Evans)
The Calvin men’s soccer team extended its win streak to five games with a 3-1 victory over visiting Adrian Tuesday afternoon at Calvin’s Zuidema Field. Calvin led 2-0 at halftime behind first half goals from senior Joe Broekhuizen and junior Zach Willis. Adrian later cut the Calvin lead in half on a goal in the 82nd minute but the Knights put the game on ice with a goal by freshman Taylor Pruis in the 85th minute of play. Picking up assists on the afternoon for Calvin were Willis and sophomores Travis Vegter, Sean Broekhuizen and Adrien Mary. Calvin senior goalkeeper Jared Rushlau went the distance in goal for the Knights to pick up the victory. Calvin outshot Adrian 31-3 in the win. Ranked seventh in the Central Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association, the Knights (7-3-0 overall, 5-1-0 MIAA) will host Alma on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Jared Rushlau Named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week in Men’s Soccer
Monday, October 01, 2012
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Calvin goalkeeper its MIAA Defensive Player of the Week in men’s soccer for games played through Sept. 30. Rushlau, a senior from Grandville (Grandville HS), had back-to-back shutout performances in net as the Knights won twice to move into second place in the MIAA standings. He made four saves, including two saves on early scoring chances, in a 1-0 road victory over Hope, and seven saves in a 5-0 win over Kalamazoo. Rushlau is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Calvin will host Adrian on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Zuidema Field.
Knights Blank Hornets 5-0, Win Fourth Straight
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO – The Calvin men’s soccer team traveled to Kalamazoo looking for its fourth consecutive conference win. In a match up of the two teams tied for first place, the Knights blanked the Hornets 5-0 on Saturday afternoon. Calvin improves to 6-3, 4-1 in conference play. Both teams were deadlocked at zero for the first 40 minutes. Senior Joe Broekhuizen scored two goals in as many minutes to give Calvin a 2-0 lead going into the break. Kalamazoo nearly got on the board ten minutes into the second half. Jared Georgakopoulos ripped a shot that got by Calvin keeper Jared Rushlau. Luckily for the Knights, the ball found the crossbar. Ten minutes later, junior Zach Willis found the net for the Knights, putting them up 3-0. In the 83rd minutes, a pair of substitutes scored a minute apart. Senior Mike Sanderson and freshmen Sam Hanover scored their first goals of the season.The Knights outshot the Hornets 17-13. Calvin senior Jared Rushlau was credited with the shutout.
Men’s Soccer Wins at Hope 1-0 - Extends Win Streak to Three
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
By Mark DeHaan
Looking to extend their two game win streak, the Knights of Calvin traveled to Van Andel Stadium in Holland to face the Flying Dutchmen of Hope. And, just as they had last year, the Knights returned to Grand Rapids with an exciting 1-0 victory. Calvin’s lone goal came early as sophomore Travis Vegter struck for the Knights, breaking through the Hope back line to face Hope freshman keeper Ethan Beswick one-on-one. Dribbling toward the corner of the six yard box, Vegter snuck a shot under Beswick’s arm and inside the near post to put Calvin up 1-0. The Knights now look forward to Saturday when they will travel to Kalamazoo College to face the Hornets. The Hornets, also 3-1 in conference, are tied with Calvin for second in the MIAA while Olivet sits in first at 4-0. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
Men’s soccer team picks up 7-1 win over visiting Albion Britons
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Story By Mark DeHaan
Photo by Paul Evans
Looking to duplicate the result of the women’s game, the Knights men’s soccer team had plenty of work to do if they wanted to come up with a similar 11-0 win. Although Calvin (4-3-0 overall, 2-1-0 MIAA) did not score 11 goals, it still came away with a dominant 7-1 win. Senior Joe Broekhuizen had two goals for Calvin while senior Nick Holtrop, junior Ben Honeycutt, senior Chris Nance, sophomore Adrien Mary and freshman Taylor Pruis also scored for the Knights. Andrew Claucherty and Jared Rushlau split time in goal for the Knights with each keeper recording two saves. Calvin will now prepare for its rivalry game at Hope Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Van Andel Stadium.
Men’s Soccer Goes Overtime to Gain 2-1 Conference Victory Over Trine
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The Calvin men’s soccer team got back on the winning track with a 2-1 sudden-death overtime win over visiting Trine University Tuesday afternoon at Calvin’s Zuidema Field. Calvin dominated the run of play throughout the match but trailed 1-0 at halftime as the visiting Thunder capitalized on a shot in the Calvin box late in the first half. Calvin continued to pepper the Trine goal in the second half and finally broke through on a goal by sophomore Sean Broekhuizen with 14:24 left in regulation as he cranked in a ball sent to him by freshman Sam Hanover. In overtime, Calvin struck quickly as senior Joe Broekhuizen sent a pass through the middle to sophomore Travis Vegter with Vegter ripping a shot from 20 yards out that found the far inside corner of the net for the game-winning “golden goal.” Calvin (3-3-0 overall, 1-1-0 MIAA) outshot Trine 35-11 with sophomore Andrew Claucherty picking up three saves in nets for the Knights. Calvin will host Albion on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Zuidema Field.
Men’s Soccer Clipped by Wheaton 3-1 in Non-Conference Match
Friday, September 14, 2012
WHEATON, IL - The Calvin men’s soccer team suffered a 3-1 loss at Wheaton (IL) Friday night at Joe Bean Stadium, snapping what had been a four-game Calvin win streak over their non-conference rivals. Ranked 15th nationally, Wheaton built a 2-0 halftime lead on first half goals by Mitchell Paur and Adam Blackman. The goal by Maur was a well-placed shot just inside the right post while the Blackman goal was a blast from distance that found the top shelf of the Calvin net. Blackman then put Wheaton up 3-0 with another strike from distance, looping a shot just under the crossbar in the 62nd minute of play. Calvin freshman Taylor Pruis got the Knights on the board, ripping in a shot inside the Wheaton box with 7:37 left in regulation. The goal by Pruis was his second of the year. Sophomore Sean Broekhuizen picked up an assist on the play. Wheaton held a 23-10 shots at goal advantage. Senior goalkeeper Jared Rushlau had five saves for Calvin. The Knights are back in action next Tuesday, hosting Albion at 4 p.m.
Men’s Soccer Team Stunned by Olivet Comeback in 6-5 Loss in League Opener
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
OLIVET - A four-goal lead was not enough for the Calvin men’s soccer team as the Knights were stunned by a furious Olivet comeback Wednesday afternoon. Leading 4-0 late in the first half, Calvin surrendered the lead as the host Comets scored six unanswered goals to take a 6-4 lead. Calvin added another goal with just over 15 minutes remaining but was unable to tie the game back up. The Olivet comeback effort began with a goal with 1:30 left in the first half that brought the Comets to within 4-1 at halftime. Olivet then scored five goals in the first 17 minutes of the second half including three in the first 12 minutes to take a 5-4 lead. An Olivet tally in the 73rd minute put the Comets up 6-4 before Calvin answered with a goal by senior Nick Holtrop in the 75th minute of play. The Holtrop goal was his third of the game, marking his first collegiate hat-trick. Holtrop’s performance went for naught however as the Comets claimed the stunning comeback win. Holtrop scored a pair of first half goals with freshman Taylor Pruis and sophomore Tyler Vegter also scoring for the Knights. Calvin is back in action on Friday when it travels to Wheaton (IL) for a non-conference game at 8 p.m.
Ben Honeycutt Named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week in Men’s Soccer
Monday, September 10, 2012
For the first time in his career, Calvin College junior Ben Honeycutt has been named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week in men’s soccer. Honeycutt, a junior from Grandville (Grand Rapids South Christian HS), scored two goals and played solid defense as the Knights split a pair of games at the Bergsma Memorial Tournament. He scored Calvin’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to Dominican, Ill., and scored what provided to be winning goal in a 2-1 win over Aurora, Ill. Honeycutt has scored three goals this year for the Knights who are back in action this week when they travel to Olivet on Wednesday and to Wheaton (IL) on Friday.
