KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College men's soccer team lost its place among the top four in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) with a 4-1 loss to Hope College. Kalamazoo currently sits one point behind Albion for the final spot in the MIAA Tournament with one regular season game remaining.
Both teams had chances in the early portions of the first half, but neither the Hornets or the Flying Dutchmen could put a ball in net. It was in the 42 minute when Josh Hagene opened the scoring firing a low shot passed the outstretched arms of Kalamazoo junior goalkeeper Beau Prey.
Kalamazoo pushed numbers forward to attempt to tie the game before halftime, but Hope counter-attacked. Brandon Underwood broke through the Kalamazoo defense on the far side and sent a cross to the top of the box. Hope's Jason Muller calmly settled the ball and shot a low ball that found the side netting.
Trailing 2-1, K scored just a minute and 14 seconds into the second half. Freshman Dylan Jolliffe finished a cross from sophomore Nicholas Shabino from point-blank range.
Hope stretched its lead out to two goals when Muller scored his second of the game on a penalty kick. Underwood would add a late goal to finish the game off in Hope's favor.
"We had trouble finishing our chances in the first half," Kalamazoo Head Coach Lumumba Shabazz said. "We created opportunities, just did not convert them into goals."
Both teams took 14 shot in the game. Kalamazoo freshman Camilo Cervino took five of them with three of the five coming on net. The Hornets held a slight 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.
With the loss and Albion's win, Kalamazoo fall into a tie for fifth place with the Alma Scots in the MIAA standings. Fortunately for the Hornets, K owns the tiebreaker with Alma via head-to-head record. Kalamazoo needs a win and an Albion tie/loss or a tie and an Albion loss.
Kalamazoo plays its final MIAA game at Trine Tuesday, Nov. 5 while Albion faces top-ranked Calvin.