Box Score by Greg Chandler
The Hope College men's soccer team suffered its first loss of the 2021 spring season Friday night at Van Andel Soccer Stadium, falling to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Kalamazoo College, 3-2, in overtime.
A penalty kick goal 27 seconds into overtime after a Hope foul in the penalty area lifted the Hornets to the victory.
Hope, which was playing its first game since April 5, fell to 2-1-1 on the season with the loss in its final game before next week's MIAA tournament.
The Flying Dutchmen earned the third seed in a coach's vote and will host Adrian College in a 5 p.m. quarterfinal on Tuesday, April 20 at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.
"I thought Kalamazoo was a lot more game-ready than we were," Hope coach Dave Brandt said after the game. "Give credit to Kalamazoo, they were tough. We've had five of seven games cancelled [because of COVID protocols] and we just haven't played enough."
"I think a lot of things tonight had to do with us. It's been two weeks since we've played and we've just played a couple of games. It felt strange the whole night. It's on us to battle through it," Brandt added.
Each team scored on its first shot on goal in the contest. Kalamazoo struck first, just 45 seconds after the opening kickoff.
But a little more than a minute later, freshman Ethan Jansen of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Northern HS), pictured, tied things up with his first career goal, set up by sophomore defender Jackson Strabel of Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Kentwood HS).
The Flying Dutchmen would carry the play for the next 15 minutes, getting five shots at the Kalamazoo net, but were not able to score.
The Hornets took a 2-1 lead on a goal in the 21st minute, and maintained that lead well into the second half.
A Kalamazoo foul in the penalty area gave the Flying Dutchmen an opportunity to even the score again. Senior midfielder Dominick Byrne of Fremont, Michigan (Fremont HS) scored his second goal of the season off the penalty kick to tie the score at 2-2 with 17:23 remaining in regulation.
Hope outshot Kalamazoo 16-12 in the contest, and had four corner kicks to two for the Hornets. Junior goalkeeper Austin Cortes of Gurnee, Illinois (Warren Township HS) made two saves in goal for the Flying Dutchmen.
