Calvin men’s soccer has advanced to the third round of the NCAA III tournament in Chicago after beating Thomas More and John Carroll.

Calvin previously played Thomas More on Nov. 10 at the Don Shula Stadium in University Heights, Ohio. The Knights walked away with a 4–0 victory Friday night.

The first half went back and forth, and Thomas More were able to create a scoring chance. Thomas More’s Sam Lewis kicked a 30 yard shot that hit the crossbar. Calvin recovered quickly, and Bobby McCaw scored on a counterattack soon afterwards through a cross from Jacob Witte.

Calvin’s offense succeeded in turning scoring chances into goals in the second half, with  three goals netted in the second half.

Witte scored the second goal two minutes into the second half. With a 2–0 lead, Calvin played more assertively. In another five minutes after the second goal, Witte scored another, solidifying Calvin’s lead to 3–0 through a pass from Bobby McCaw.

The fourth and final goal was scored by a header from Micah Beard through a cross from Matt Hinds. Overall, the Knights led in shots taken in the game 15–11, with a 11–6 advantage in the second half.

The next day, the Knights faced John Carroll University for the second round of NCAA III tournament at University Heights, Ohio.

This game went back and forth between the two teams, with no goals scored in the first half. For most of the second half, both Calvin and John Carroll were unable to score.

About five minutes before the game ended, Hinds scored off of a rebound shot off of the right post from a shot by Dillon Weldy. In the following minutes of the game, the Blue Streaks looked to equalize but the Knights stopped four shots from John Carroll.

In the last minute of the second half, Weldy assisted the ball to Mitch Stark, who launched the ball into the net, finalizing Calvin’s victory.

“What a great team result against a tremendous John Carroll team,” said Calvin men’s soccer coach Ryan Souders.

“[John Carroll] outplayed us for spells and were exceptionally talented. But credit our guys; they found a way. It was a gritty, gutsy all-out performance led by our seniors. I couldn’t ask for anything more. To get a true road tournament win is incredibly difficult and these guys got it done. We’re ecstatic to still be dancing”

Quotes courtesy Calvin Sports Information