KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College men's soccer team wrapped up its four-game homestand at MacKenzie Field on Tuesday (Sept. 12) against Cornerstone. After the Golden Eagles took a 2-1 lead late in the first half, the Hornets scored four unanswered goals in the second half to win 5-2.
Kalamazoo inserted Jaden Buist and Antoine Kondracki into the starting lineup with Gavin Houtkooper, Colin Halloran, Aidan Gillig, Michele Alia, Paul Kearis, Emilio Romo, Chad Ewing, Jeremiah Heath, and Jake Lynett.
The two teams took the first 20 minutes of the game to figure out the tempo after going back and forth in the midfield. Then, the Hornets struck first in the 21st minute as Heath intercepted a pass in Cornerstone's defensive zone, dribbled towards the end line, and put a cross into the box that Romo out away for his third goal of the season. However, it did not take long for the Golden Eagles to respond as Steven Stidham tied the game up. CU took advantage of a mental lapse by K by scoring with 65 seconds left on the clock until halftime as Jake Madak scored the goal.
After the Hornets were down 2-1 heading into the locker room, the comeback started in the 54th minute. The ball bounced off a defender and towards the top of the box when Ewing flicked the shot right over the goalkeeper to tie the game. Then, in the 71st minute, Kalamazoo took the lead as Romo finished a header attempt by Alia for his fourth goal of the season. The Hornets added an insurance goal in the 73rd minute as Henry Plumstead played a short cross to the front post side, and Alia scored his second goal of the season on a bicycle kick. Aidan Baas put away the fifth goal in the 84th minute on a penalty shot following a Cornerstone handball in the box.
Houtkooper finished with two saves on four attempts in the win. The Hornets held advantages in shots (24-10) and corner kicks (6-2), while the Golden Eagles had more saves (8-2), and both teams had 12 fouls a piece.
Kalamazoo will begin a three-game road stretch on Saturday (Sept. 16) by traveling to UM-Dearborn, beginning at 3 p.m.