Men’s soccer team beats Alma, 2-1

ALMA, Mich. -- The Olivet College men's soccer team defeated Alma College, 2-1 today at Scotland Yard in Alma. With the win, the Comets improve their record to 11-4-1, including 6-3-1 against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents. Olivet now sits in second-place in the league standings with 19 points, just one point behind Adrian and one point ahead of Calvin and Kalamazoo.

The Scots scored the first goal of the game at the 26:59 mark. The Comets answered 26 seconds later when freshman Daniel Hampsten (Plainwell) found the back of the net off an assist from junior Chase Anthes (Ludington). Olivet scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 60th minute. Off a set from 35 yards out, senior Matt Manning (Charlotte) struck the ball, and it bounced off an Alma player's head and into the net for an own goal.

For the game, the Comets had a 14-3 edge in shots, including a 9-1 margin in shots-on-goal. Hampsten topped the team with four shots (three on-goal), while freshman Fred Smyser (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern) had three shots. Senior Ethan Felsing (Mason) did not have to make a save to earn the win in goal.

"This was a very big win on the road for us," said Olivet Head Coach Chad Wiseman. "Any MIAA win on the road is good because of all the parity at the top of the standings right now. I felt Daniel stepped up and gave us a nice attacker up top. A few guys play that missed the last couple games because of injury gave us a lift in their return to the lineup. Now, we just have to focus on Tuesday's game. There's a lot riding on it.

Tuesday's game is against Calvin College and will get under way at 4 p.m.