GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After 11 days off, Cornerstone returns to their tough early season schedule with home matches vs. Calvin University and Madonna University this Wednesday and Saturday evening at 7 p.m. CU comes off a tie and a loss two weeks ago against a pair of Crossroads League opponents as they get set for another week of tough opponents in one of the best NCAA DIII programs in the country with Calvin and one of the WHAC front runners in Madonna. To watch the matches live and follow along, visit the link HERE.
 
Beltline Rivalry 
Cornerstone and Calvin will meet for the first time in men's soccer since 2004 to restore a rivalry that has not been played in 17 years. The Golden Eagles are 0-5-1 in five all-time meetings against the Knights in recordable history, falling 1-0 in the last meeting between the two sides. 
 
Freshman Goal Scorers
Cornerstone has struggled to find the net this season with just seven goals in six games, but have seen an encouraging sight with a pair of freshmen leading the way in goals. Jeff Herrema and Boston Knapp each have four points, as the only two players with multiple goals this season. 
 
Goalie Carousal
Due to injury, Cornerstone has seen three different keepers spend time in net this season, with Tyler Novosad getting the call for the final 19:50 of their last game at Grace. Novosad in his first varsity action made one save and did not give up a goal to close out that match. 
 
Scouting the Knights
The Calvin Knights are a historically consistent men's soccer program making it all the way to the NCAA DIII National Tournament Semifinal back in 2019 and the National Title game in 2018. So far this year, it has been no different for the Knights going 6-1-2 so far with a pair of double-digit scoring performances. Calvin does not give up goals either, allowing just four, with three of those coming in one game. Offensively Sam Twigg has been the standout with nine goals and three assists for 21 points. Defensively, keeper Daniel Wunder has started eight of the nine games, recorded four of the teams five shutouts and held an .833 save percentage as the Calvin defensive line has allowed just 25 shots against.
 
Scouting the Crusaders
Madonna has opened 2021 with a 3-1-1 record, playing three games on the road in the early season. Madonna is another team with an outstanding defense as the only team to score against them has been Bethel, as they have shut out the other four opponents they have played. Head Coach Mark Zathey is in his 9^th season at the helm, and has a young roster this season as he looks to continue to have his squad compete at the top of the WHAC. Freshman Ryota Nakajima has been the offensive standout leading the team with two goals and two assists after not starting the first two games of the season. Madonna also has a freshman in net in Youssou Ouendeno from Paris, France who has three shutouts and an .870 save percentage, having to make just 20 so far this year. 
 
Men's Soccer Contact: Jesse Campbell
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