Men’s Soccer: Kouyate’s hat trick propels Olivet to 3-2 win over Trine and berth in MIAA Tournament championship game

ANGOLA, Ind. – Freshman Djimo Kouyate recorded a hat trick to lead The University of Olivet men's soccer team to a 3-2 win over Trine (Ind.) University tonight in the semifinals of the 2023 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament at Shive Field. With the victory, the Comets advance to the play Calvin University in the championship game on Saturday at 5 p.m.

• Final Score: Olivet 3, Trine 2
• Location: Shive Field; Angola, Indiana
• Records: Olivet 5-6-6 overall, Trine 7-7-3 overall

• The Comet led 1-0 at halftime behind a goal by freshman Djimo Kouyate in the 31st minute. Sophomore Carter Scheel was credited with an assist on the goal.
• The Thunder scored the equalizer in the 52nd minute on a penalty kick goal by Tyler Murphy.
• Kouyate put Olivet ahead with a goal at the 68:03 mark. Sophomore Kyle Buchan earned the assist.
• Murphy netted the tying goal for Trine just two minutes later.
• There was no more scoring in the second half so the game went to overtime.
• Olivet broke the tie two minutes and 48 seconds into the first overtime period. Off a set piece, Buchan served the ball into the box, where Kouyate headed the ball into the goal at the near post.
• The Thunder appeared to have tied the game with just two seconds left in the game, but a Trine player committed a foul and the goal was disallowed by the referees.

• For the game, Olivet totaled 13 shots compared to 23 for the Thunder.
• Kouyate led the way with six shots, including five on-goal.
• Freshman Michael Elzerman and senior Cole Miller were next with two shots apiece.
• Freshman Nicholas Van Port Fleet played all 110 minutes in goal and had six saves.

• Olivet will play in the MIAA Tournament championship game for the third time in school history. The other two times were 2011 and 2012.
• Kouyate is the third player in MIAA Tournament history to record at least three goals. The other were four goals by Murphy in the 2022 tournament and Bobby McCaw from Calvin in the 2016 tournament.
• Buchan's two assists ties the MIAA Tournament record for assists in a game.
• Since the MIAA Tournament expanded to include more than four schools in 2018, Olivet is now the lowest seed to advance to the championship game.
• Kouyate now has 10 goals this season. The last Comet to have 10 goals in a season was Alistair Law in 2018.

• The MIAA Tournament Championship game is Saturday at Zuidema Field in Grand Rapids. Game time is 5 p.m.