Photo credit: Dr. Jeff Nelson

Calvin University (21-1-1, 7-0-0 MIAA)

Grand Rapids, Michigan / Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA)

Calvin University has advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season following a 3-1 victory over St. Norbert on Sunday afternoon. In the win, sophomore defender Sam Twigg sent in his 13th and 14th goals of the season.

After losing to sectional qualifier Ohio Wesleyan, 2-1, in their second match of the season on August 31, the Knights have gone unbeaten in their past 20 matches. Through 23 matches played, the Knights have outscored their opponents 73-15 while allowing just 0.64 goals per match.

Calvin's top goal-scorer is senior midfielder Hunter Olson, who has 15 goals and a team second-best 37 points. The team's points leader is Twigg, who has totaled 14 goals and 13 assists while leading the team in shots on goal (35). In goal, junior Chris Morrish and freshman Daniel Wunder have started in 13 and nine matches, respectively. Morrish (10 GA, 0.70 GAA, 11-1-1 record) has started in all four of Calvin's NCAA Tournament matches.

Luther College (17-4-2, 5-3-0 ARC)

Decorah, Iowa / American Rivers Conference (ARC)

Luther College advanced to its second straight Sweet Sixteen after junior goalkeeper Carson Davenport stopped a pair of shots in PK shootouts against UW-Superior on Sunday evening. 

The Norse have outscored their opponents 61-22 while keeping the pressure on with a .494 shots on goal percentage. 

Senior forward Ben Keller stands out in more ways than his hard-to-miss 6'5" frame. The Vadnais Heights, Minn. native leads the Norse in goals (16), assists (13), points (45), and game winning goals (9). Not too far behind Keller is sophomore forward Marcos Vila, who has 33 points with 13 goals, seven assists, and a team-leading 68 shots (43 on goal). In goal for the Norse is Sunday's aforementioned hero Carson Davenport, who carries an 8-3-1 record with a 1.03 goals against average.  

Ohio Wesleyan University (15-5-3, 7-1-1- NCAC)

Delaware, Ohio / North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC)

Ohio Wesleyan University, who received an at-large bid after finishing as the NCAC tournament runner-up, continues its NCAA Tournament journey following a 3-1 over Chicago last Sunday. The Maroons scored a late first-half goal in the 43rd minute before the Battling Bishops responded with three unanswered goals in the second half. 

Head Coach Jay Martin, who is the winningest coach in NCAA men's soccer history with 723 wins in his 43-year career, leads the Battling Bishops to their 41st Division III playoff appearance.

Ohio Wesleyan's biggest tool is its defense. The Battling Bishops have allowed just 12 goals all season as starting goalkeeper J.P. Baughman totals 54 saves, seven shutouts, and a 0.48 goals against average. As a team, Ohio Wesleyan has earned 11 wins via shutout.  For the offense, senior defender Brady Whittekind is the leading goal-scorer with nine while sophomore midfielder Hector Gomez sets the table with a team-best 10 assists.

North Park University (16-4-2, 6-1-1 CCIW)

Chicago, Illinois / College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW)

North Park University returns to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since its historic finish as the National Runner-up in 2017. This past Sunday, the Vikings advanced over Gustavus Adolphus (5-4 PKs) after sophomore goalkeeper Edin Sabovic stopped the fifth penalty kick shot of the nation's second-leading goal-scorer, Cole Schwartz.

North Park's high-paced offense showcases five players with five or more goals: junior midfielder Peder Olsen (19), freshman midfielder William Sandkvist (9), junior midfielder Gianfranco DeCarne (7), sophomore forward Patrick Knap (7), and freshman midfielder Niclas Holgersson (5). DeCarne is the Vikings' all-time leader in assists, totaling 27 in his three-year career. Midfielders Ulrik Lund and Gustav Ericsson combine for three goals and 11 assists while junior forward Shatil Khoury has notched three goals and an assist in just 11 matches played.

The Viking defense, made up of Angel Barriga, Runar Berg-Domaas, William Bostrom-Rydfjall, Arian Cindahl, Erlend Kemkers and goalkeepers Mathias Stulen and Edin Sabovic account for a 0.94 goals against average. Stulen logs the most minutes in goal with a 10-2-1 record, 40 saves, and a 1.00 goals against average.

SECTIONAL SCHEDULE

Friday, November 22 - Sweet Sixteen

1 p.m.                Luther (V) at Ohio Wesleyan (H)

3:30 p.m.            North Park (V) at Calvin (H)

Saturday, November 23 - Elite Eight

Winners play at 3 p.m.

*All times are listed in CST