Men’s soccer team loses at Calvin, 3-2, in overtime

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Olivet College men's soccer team lost to Calvin College, 3-2, in overtime this afternoon at Zuidema Field in Grand Rapids. The loss snaps the Comets' six-game winning streak.

Olivet took an early 1-0 lead. Junior Jared Wilson-Santos (Lansing/Everett) slipped the ball into the box, where senior Fred Smyser (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern) buried his shot into the goal.  "We started great and was the better team," said Olivet Head Coach Dan Bulley. "Fred Smyser put one into the net after a fantastic build up."

The Knights knotted the score at 1-1 in the 19th minute. The score remained 1-0 at halftime.

In the 63rd minute, the Comets went a man-down when a player was issued a second yellow card, resulting in a red card. Calvin capitalized less than one minute later with a goal to take a 2-1 lead. Olivet scored the equalizer in the 81st minute. Smyser passed the ball to freshman Gregory Petty (Clinton Twp./Fraser), who tapped ball past the keeper and into the goal for his first collegiate point.

Despite some offensive pressure late in the second half from the Knights, the game went into overtime. Calvin wasted no time in the overtime, as Travis Vegter scored his third goal of the game only 1:29 into the extra period.

In a physical contest, seven different Comets were booked with a yellow card, while only one Calvin player was given one. The Knights finished with 17 shots to six for Olivet. Sophomore Michael Moscone (Washington Twp./Warren De La Salle) was credited with two shots. Junior Alex Lang (West Bloomfield/Detroit Catholic Central) made four saves, while playing all 90 minutes in goal.

The Comets host Hope College next Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. "I am extremely proud of my players' efforts and attitude," said Bulley. "We will need to regroup as we look towards a home game against Hope."