Men’s soccer team defeats Albion 5-2, for 13th win of season

OLIVET, Mich. – Sophomores Billyle Alman (Lansing/Okemos) and Jon Puente (Kalamazoo/Galesburg Augusta) each scored twice, and sophomore Esteban Russell (DeWitt) added one goal and  three assists to lead the No. 6 Olivet College men's soccer team to a 5-2 win over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. With the win, Olivet improves its overall record to 13-1-1 and remains in a tie for first-place in the MIAA standings with an 8-1 record.

The Comets struck first in the 11th minute. Sophomore Camden Iwasko (Livonia/Stevenson) passed the ball from the middle of the field to Russell, who flicked the ball back to Alman, who then finished with a low shot to the near post. Russell then scored his goal in the 17th minute. Junior Fred Smyser (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern) played a diagonal pass to Russell at the top of the 18-yard box, where he buried a shot to the far post.

Alman scored a goal almost identical to his first one less than two minutes later. Iwasko and freshman Austin Dunn (Perry) each earned an assist on the goal.

Puente scored his two goals in a span of two and half minutes. On the first one, Russell attacked from the left side of the field, and sent a cross to senior Matt Garza (Saline), who passed to Puente for a goal at the far post. Puente's second goal came in the 41st minute. Freshman Zach Schulz (Farmington) was playing out wide and sent a pass to Russell, who passed to Puente for the goal. The Britons broke up the shutout by scoring a goal with 19 seconds left before halftime.

Albion scored the only goal in the second half in the 77th minute.

Olivet finished the game with 21 shots, including seven for Russell. Alman had three. Sophomores Alex Lang (West Bloomfield/Detroit Catholic Central) and Matt Van Houten (Northville) combined for the win in goal. Lang played the first half, and made three saves on six Albion shots. Van Houten played the second half, making four saves, while facing nine shots.

The Comets will host Hope College next Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m.

NOTE: With his three assists, Russell now has 22 in his career, which ties the all-time Olivet record. Mike May also had 22 assists from 2007-10. The three assists also tie the Olivet single-game record. He is the ninth player in school history to have three assists in a game.