Box Score by Eva Dean Folkert
Two freshmen combined their talents to score the game-winning goal for the Hope College men's soccer team against Alma College on Tuesday
A well-placed corner kick by freshman midfielder Matt Davidson, pictured right, resulted in a tie-breaking goal by freshman forward Cameron Hoober, pictured left, and the Flying Dutchmen, ranked 18th in the latest D3soccer.com poll, were able to secure a 2-1 win over the Scots on the road.
The Flying Dutchmen are now 4-0-1 in the MIAA and 10-2-2 overall. Alma falls to 0-5 and 2-12.
With the Hope victory over Alma and a Calvin University win, 2-1, over Kalamazoo College, also on Tuesday, the Flying Dutchmen and Knights (5-0, 13-2-2) are the only two undefeated teams remaining in the MIAA standings. The Rivalry showdown this Saturday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in VanAndel Soccer Stadium has first-place implications once again.
On Tuesday, Alma got on the board first. In the 9th minute. Scots defender Tristan Salazar scored his first goal of the season off a right-side pass sent to center of the box from forward Ethan Swartzentruber.
Just four minutes later though, Hope tied the score when Nic Kubert of Rochester Hills, Michigan (Avondale HS) kicked in a deflected save attempt by the Alma goalie. The goal was the junior midfielder's fifth this season.
It took until the 68th minute for Hope to score the game-winner. Freshman Hoober put a right-footed goal into the net off of Davidson's corner from the left side. Davidson of Grand Ledge, Michigan (Grand Ledge HS) recorded his first assist of the season while the goal was Hoober's fourth. The Lancaster, Pennsylvania-native has scored in three of the last four games for the Flying Dutchmen.
Hope controlled possession for most of the contest. The Flying Dutchmen took a total of 22 shot with 11 on goal, while Alma took just four shots, three being on goal. Hope also had nine corner kicks to Alma's one.
Freshman goalkeeper Daniel Hesselbein of Barrington, Illinois (Barrington Community) made two saves.
