Men's soccer team loses to Hope, 4-1, in MIAA Tournament championship game

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College men's soccer team ended its season with a tough 4-1 loss to Hope College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament championship game today at Van Andel Stadium in Holland.

Like yesterday's semifinal game, sophomore Fred Smyser (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern) put the Comets ahead 1-0 with a goal in the 11th minute. Freshman Esteban Russell (DeWitt) served the ball in on a free kick. Smyser got a head on the ball and flicked it past the keeper at the near post.

Hope scored the equalizer in the 30th minute on a header off a corner kick. The score stayed 1-1 until there were five minutes and 53 seconds left when the Flying Dutchmen scored the go-ahead goal. Hope scored two more goals to create the final margin.

Olivet finished the game with 10 shots. Russell had four, Smyser had three and sophomore Adam Wright (South End, England/Walled Lake Western) had two. Freshman Alex Lang (West Bloomfield/ Detroit Catholic Central) recorded seven saves.

The Comets end their season with a 14-7-1 overall record. The 14 wins is a single-season school record. Olivet scored 31 total goals, and allowed only 22 goals. Russell topped the team in scoring with 18 points (five goals and team-high eight assists). Smyser scored a team-leading six goals, including four game-winners. Lang logged 1,554 minutes in goal, made 73 saves and had a 1.04 goals against average.