KALAMAZOO, Mich. – On a widely-successful and action-packed day of Kalamazoo College athletics, the Kalamazoo College men's soccer team finished Saturday in style with a 3-1 win under the lights over the visitors from Hope College at MacKenzie Field.
In a chippy game which produced eight total cautions from the referee, the Hornets played through the physicality as Cal Kirchen collected a Benjamin Kileen cross off a free kick and slotted it into the bottom left corner of the goal midway through the first half.
Still holding a 1-0 lead at the break, a good spell of possession at the beginning of the second 45 minutes of play capped off by a crafty through ball from Samuel Kepes freed up Roger Mason Darling. Composed in the 18, Darling slotted the ball past the diving Hope goalkeeper and extended the Hornets' lead to 2-0 in the 47th minute.
20 minutes later, Kalamazoo drew a foul inside the penalty area off a corner kick and Kyle Hernandez calmly slotted to ball into the lower corner from the penalty spot giving K its final goal of the evening.
Hope scored in the 69th minute, but as a unit, the Hornets remained compact for the final 20 minutes of play. Griffin Hamel made three saves, helping secure the 3-1 result for Kalamazoo.
With the win, Kalamazoo now holds a 2-2-2 record in the MIAA, just two points outside a spot in the top four of the conference. The Hornets will round out the first half of conference play this Wednesday, Oct. 5, when they travel to Albion College for a 7 p.m. match.