On a day full of Calvin-Hope matchups, the Calvin women’s soccer team brought home the win as they defeated the Flying Dutch 2-0.
Neither team was able to take a lead in the first half of the MIAA Championship matchup as both defenses were able to keep the pressure on. Calvin had the best opportunity of the half when Paige Capel played a through ball to Heidi Scholten in the 38th minute.
Scholten won the ball and was taken down trying to weave through the defenders. Taylor TenHarmsel stepped up to take the penalty kick, but Hope keeper Kat Dickson kept the game level by tipping the shot wide.
The teams finished the half with five shots apiece but no goals to show for their efforts.
In the 60th minute, the Knights were able to find the back of the net for the lead. TenHarmsel saw Christina Drost making a far post run and had faith in her teammate. “Tina is so good at headers and I knew she would get there.”
Drost was able to capitalize as she sent it to the back of the net past a diving keeper. She had been hoping for that moment, “I knew Taylor would send [a cross] in … I realized I could get a solid touch.”
Shortly after the ensuing kickoff, the Knights regained possession and kept the attacking pressure up. Danielle Carter found herself with the ball in the middle and saw Kelly Koets with space. Koets sent a shot into the far lower corner for a 61st minute goal.
Drost and Koets both felt the momentum shift and knew that their teammates could keep up the energy for the rest of the game. The Knights’ defense kept the Hope offense to only four shots in the second half and Ashton Hearn made one save in the shutout effort.
Accompanying the MIAA Championship victory was an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III National Tournament. After scoring her 10th goal of the year, Koets felt ready. “We have a lot of energy going in to [the tournament] and we have been there before so we know what it takes.”
The NCAA Tournament begins the weekend of Nov. 16, with the host and matchups to be announced on Monday, Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m.
