ELMHURST, Ill. - The Kalamazoo College men's soccer secured its second shutout win of the season over Elmhurst on Wednesday evening (Sept. 14). A goal in each half propelled the Hornets over the Bluejays by a score of 2-0, snapping a two-game skid.
Kalamazoo outpaced Elmhurst in the first half in terms of shots by a total of 9-6. The offensive pressure paid dividends in the 27th minute as Emilio Romo deposited his first goal of the season for the one-goal lead. After receiving a pass from Travis Barclay, the shot from Romo went into the bottom right corner for the goal. The Hornet defense held firm for the rest of the half, especially in the 43rd minute when Elmhurst had a scoring opportunity and a save by a Kalamazoo field player that kept the Bluejays scoreless heading into the half.
The play was more even in the second half, with both teams taking six shots a piece. Kalamazoo cashed in one of those chances during the 57th minute as Jaden Buist scored his second season goal. Buist beat the goalkeeper unassisted to the lower middle part of the goal to extend the lead to 2-0. The Hornets completed their second shutout of the season, with the first coming against Concordia.
Gavin Houtkooper (2-4) made a career-high eight saves in the shutout win. Kalamazoo ended with more shots (15-12) and fouls (19-10), while Elmhurst had more corner kicks (7-2), and both teams had nine saves a piece.
Kalamazoo will play its fourth straight road game up in Grand Rapids, Mich., when the Hornets take on Aquinas with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 17).