GAMBIER, Ohio – Hamilton College's Pandelis Margaronis '25 scored twice and the Continentals defeated the Calvin University Knights 3-2 in a 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship first round match at Kenyon College's Mavec Field on Friday, Nov. 15. 
 

How It Happened

• Calvin struck first in the sixth minute on a goal by Alex White. After the Knights gained possession in their defensive half, White sprinted up the far side of the field, weaving through several Hamilton defenders and into the right side of the 18-yard box. He unleashed a shot from the top right of the six-yard box that settled into the upper-right corner. 
• The Continentals (8-6-3 overall) found the equalizer just over 10 minutes later. Hamilton earned a corner kick, and Luke Ehrenfreund '25 sent a perfectly placed delivery into the heart of the box. Luca McAdams '25 was first to meet the ball with a header, but it was Margaronis who finished the play, directing the ball from point-blank range into the center of the net.
• Hamilton took a 2-1 lead on another well-executed corner kick with 18:36 remaining in the first half. Calvin goalkeeper Kaelen Matascastillo made a diving attempt to control Ehrenfreund's kick but Margaronis pounced on the loose ball, quickly finishing with a left-footed shot that found the back of the net.
• The Knights (14-6-2) had a promising opportunity with 6:21 left in the first half, but Finn Wheeler '27 gave the Hamilton fans a show with a fingertip save off the top woodwork to preserve Hamilton's lead at the break.
• Charles Hawthorn '25 extended Hamilton's lead 12:33 into the second half, assisted once again by Ehrenfreund. Lucas O'Dowd '25 launched a throw-in from the near sideline to Jude Rouhana '25. Despite being challenged, Rouhana maintained possession and played it to Ehrenfreund. He made a move into the box and threaded a slick pass through a pair of defenders to Hawthorn in the left corner of the six-yard box. Hawthorn read the pass and he drove a one-touch strike into the top-right corner of the net for a 3-1 advantage. 
• Calvin scored their second and final goal of the match with just 36 seconds left. Colin Nieuwenhuis delivered a cross from the far side of the field to the back post, where Xtreme Hauk jumped above the defense and shot the ball into the net. 
• The Knights' rally came up short as the goal was their last scoring chance of the match.
• Hamilton outshot Calvin 15-10 as both teams had six shots on target. 
• The Knights owned an 11-7 advantage on corner kicks. 

Notes

• Hamilton advanced to the second round for the third time in program history. This is the Continentals' fifth NCAA appearance and their first since 2007. 
• Hamilton Head Coach Perry Nizzi has 211 wins in 26 seasons with the Continentals. 
• Calvin finished in third place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). The Knights earned an automatic bid for winning the MIAA tournament title.
• Margaronis collected his second career multi-goal game. He is second on the team with 10 points. 
• Hawthorn buried his third goal of the season. 
• Ehrenfreund added a career game-high three assists. He leads Hamilton with seven helpers on the season. 
• McAdams passed out his first career assist. 
• Wheeler made four saves for the Continentals.
• White netted his 17th goal of the season for the Knights. 
• Hauk scored his eighth goal of the season. 
• Matascastillo stopped two shots for the Knights in the first 45 minutes and Zac Moore added one stop in the second half. 

Next Match

Hamilton faces host Kenyon (13-3-3) in an NCAA second round contest at Mavec Field on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m.