Men’s soccer team plays at Hope in MIAA Tournament championship game

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's soccer team will play Hope College in the championship game of the 2011 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament Saturday, Nov. 5 at Van Andel Stadium in Holland.

THE MATCHUP: Olivet (14-6-1, 9-5 MIAA) vs. Hope (14-4-3, 10-3-1 MIAA)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2:30 p.m.
VENUE: Van Andel Stadium; Holland, Mich.
LIVESTATS: http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/livestats/so/

MIAA TOURNAMENT: The Comets are the No. 4 seed, while the Knights are the No.2 seed. In yesterday's semifinal games, Olivet upset No. 1 seed Calvin, 1-0, at Zuidema Field in Grand Rapids, and the Flying Dutchmen shutout Trine (Ind.) University, 2-0, at Van Andel Stadium.

SEASON SERIES: Olivet and Hope split their two regular season meetings. On Sept. 27, Olivet rallied to beat Hope, 2-1, in overtime at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Hope won 3-0 over the Comets, Oct. 22, at Van Andel Stadium in Holland.

OLIVET HEAD COACH CHAD WISEMAN: Chad Wiseman is in his third season as the Comets' head coach. He has led them to three straight winning seasons.

HOPE HEAD COACH STEVE SMITH:  Steve Smith is in his 22nd season at the helm of the Flying Dutchmen. A 1982 graduate of Grand Rapids Baptist College, he has posted a 305-99-36 record.

SCHOOL RECORD: The Comets have won a single-season school record 14 games. The previous record was 12 victories in 2010.

THE "WRIGHT" STUFF: Against MIAA opponents this season, sophomore Adam Wright, of South End, England, has scored three game-winning goals and recorded an assist on three other game-winning goals.

SMYSER ALSO WITH THREE: Fred Smyser, of Grand Rapids, has also scored three game-winning goals against MIAA opponents, including the only goal in the Comets' semifinal win against Calvin. He also had the game-winning goal against a non-conference opponent to give him four for the season.

SHUTTING OUT THE OPPONENT: Out of Olivet's 14 wins this season in 2011, 13 have been by shutout. When you add a 0-0 tie at Manchester (Ind.) College, the Comets lead the MIAA and are tied for second among all NCAA Division III schools with 14 total shutouts. St. Lawrence (N.Y.) is first with 15, followed by Olivet, Luther (Iowa) and Redlands (Calif.) with 14 each.

LANG IN NET: In all games, freshman keeper Alex Lang, of West Bloomfield, is among the league leaders in shutouts (tied for 2nd, eight), saves (4th, 71), save percentage (4th, .825) and goals against average (4th, 0.86). Overall, Olivet's three keepers have allowed only 18 goals this season.

ONE IS ENOUGH: Olivet has won seven games this season by a 1-0 score, including the last three contests.

NCAA D3 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT: The winner of the game will receive the MIAA's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III National Championships. Olivet has never advanced to the national championships, while Hope is seeking its 12th trip in school history.