Smyser leads men’s soccer team to 3-2 win over Albion

OLIVET, Mich. – Senior Fred Smyser (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern) scored two goals to help the Olivet College men's soccer team overcome 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to beat Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College, 3-2, this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Comets have now won four straight games and are tied for third-place in the league standings with a 5-3 record.

The Britons jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a goal in the fifth minute. Olivet had a great chance to tie the game a short time later but junior Jon Puente's (Kalamazoo/Galesburg Augusta) clang off post.

The Comets did score the equalizer in the 19th minute. Junior Jared Wilson-Santos (Lansing/Everett) flicked the ball into the box, where Smyser headed the ball past the keeper at the near post. Olivet appeared to have taken a 2-1 lead in the final seconds of the half, but the goal was waved off when a player was off-sides.

Albion took a 2-1 lead three minutes into the second half. Olivet quickly answered only 20 seconds later. Senior Adam Wright (Southend, England/Walled Lake Western) passed the ball to Puente who sent a shot into the net.

The Comets scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 59th minute when Smyser scored after receiving a pass from junior Camden Iwasko (Livonia/Stevenson). The Britons had a corner kick in the final 10 seconds of the game, but junior John Leutzinger (Washington Twp./Warren De La Salle) was able to get a head on the ball and knock it out of danger.

The statistics were nearly equal for both teams. Albion had 14 shots to 13 for Olivet. Both had eight shots-on-goal. Smyser and Wright each had four shots, placing three on net. Puente took three shots. Junior Alex Lang (West Bloomfield/Detroit Catholic Central) was the winning goalkeeper, as he made six saves.

The Comets travel to play Kalamazoo College Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.