Men’s soccer team defeats Alma, 1-0, for 11th shutout of 2011

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's soccer team defeated Alma College, 1-0, today in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest on the artificial surface at Olivet High School. With the win, the Comets improve their overall record 11-4-1 and moves into second-place in the MIAA standings with a 7-3 mark. In addition, the shutout is Olivet's 11th of the season, including 10 of its 11 wins.

There was no scoring until the 27:21 mark. Sophomore Adam Wright (South End, England/Wixom Walled Lake Western) took the ball down the far sideline of the field, and served the ball across the field to sophomore Fred Smyser (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern). Smyser took the serve out of the air with a one-time volley, and finished with a shot low and to the far post.

The Comets out-shot the Scots by a large margin, 29-7, and a 17-4 edge in shots-on-goal. Freshman Esteban Russell (DeWitt) led the way with nine shots, while Wright had eight. Each placed five shots on frame. Freshman Alex Lang (West Bloomfield/Detroit Catholic Central) protected his fifth clean sheet of the season with three saves.

"I feel we played a complete 90 minutes for the first time in five games," said Head Coach Chad Wiseman. "We had many opportunities to find the second goal, it just didn't come. The guys did a terrific job in protecting the lead and finishing the game. I am very proud of the way they responded today."

Olivet returns to action Saturday when it travels to play Hope College at 7 p.m. The Comets have beaten the Flying Dutchmen on their home field each of the last two years.