By Mitch Blankespoor
ANGOLA, Ind. – Coming into the final game of the regular season, the Kalamazoo College men's soccer team trailed the Britons of Albion College by a single point for the fourth and final spot in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament. Kalamazoo needed a win against the Trine University Thunder and some help from the Calvin College Knights. Kalamazoo delivered with a 2-1 come from behind victory over Trine while the Knights defeated Albion 5-0.
"In a weird way, I thought the Trine goal relaxed us," Kalamazoo Head Coach Lumumba Shabazz said. "We were anxious before that, but after, we just settled down and played our game."
Kalamazoo outshot Trine 25-4 in the contest, but found itself trailing 1-0 in the 60th minute. Needing a win to continue its season, the Hornets pushed numbers forward. The Hornets struck in the 70th minute. Roger Mason Darling sent a cross in from the far side of the field toward freshman Kyle Hernandez. The Holland native simply headed the ball near side past a diving Chris Stewart to knot the game at one.
K continued to put the pressure on. It paid off in the 88th minute. Nicholas Shabino sent low cross through two Thunder defenders. Noah Bushaw settled at the top of the box, and flicked a shot over the head of Stewart who was charging forward. That proved to be the game-winner as Kalamazoo possessed for the final three minutes to victory.
"The pressure [on Trine's defense] was building to the final 20 minutes," Shabazz said. "We were determined and worked hard by sending many crosses into the box."
Kalamazoo fired 20 of its 25 shots in the second half. Shabino, Hernandez, and Dylan Jolliffe all took four or more shots for the Hornets. K also earned 10 corner kicks while yielding none to the host Thunder.
With its win, Kalamazoo clinches a berth in the MIAA Tournament. The Hornets will play top-seeded Calvin Thursday, Nov. 7. The road team has won both games this season with Kalamazoo winning at Calvin 3-0 and Calvin winning at Kalamazoo 4-3 in overtime. Kickoff for Thursday's semifinal is scheduled for noon.
"We have an opportunity to play again," Shabazz said. "Getting to the playoffs solidifies where the program is going."