KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College men's soccer team defeated Hope 2-1 in overtime at MacKenzie Field on Thursday night in a make up of the teams' rain shortened contest earlier in the month.
In their first meeting of the season Kalamazoo and Hope needed extra time to decide the contest and this game was every bit as dramatic. The first half was scoreless, but not without chances as Hope outshot K 11-2. Griffin Hamel was busy in the K goal making six saves, including an outstanding touch on a shot by James Reymond that pushed the ball onto the crossbar and kept the game scoreless.
Despite the early Hope pressure, it was Kalamazoo that finally opened the scoring in the 49th minute as Ben Meschke held off a defender along the endline and slotted a ball back into the Hope penalty area for Ryan Melgar to finish off for the 1-0 lead. That lead held until a Hope player was taken down in the Kalamazoo penalty area in 73rd minute and James Reymond converted the ensuing penalty kick to draw the Dutch level.
Both teams pushed for a decisive goal during the remainder of regulation, but the score remained tied after 90 minutes and the game was forced into overtime. As the clock wound down in the first overtime period, it appeared that that period would also end in a deadlock, but Thomas Bryant chased down a long ball for Kalamazoo and slid to put the ball past the Hope keeper and win the game with 10 seconds remaining.
The goal was Bryant's third of the season and second game winner this week as he scored with two minutes remaining to defeat Trine on Tuesday.
Griffin Hamel made seven saves in a strong performance in goal for the Hornets.
Kalamazoo will return to MacKenzie Field for Homecoming on Saturday as they take on Calvin at 2:30 p.m.