The Alma College Men's Soccer team hit the road on Tuesday to take on MIAA rival Trine University in the league opener for both teams. The Scots won the game 4-3 to improve to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in the MIAA, while Trine is now 2-3-1 in 2013 and 0-1 in the league.

"As we crossed into the main part of our schedule today, thoughts and distractions from last Friday's massive win for our program came with us," remarked Scots Head Coach Josh Oakley. "This cannot happen for us to be the best, and it happened today. Trine nearly made us pay for it. We were out of sync and off of our game.

"It's hard to win in the MIAA, and even harder to win on the road in this league. We feel fortunate to get the three points today and you can bet we will work harder and be better next week."

The Scots struck first when So. M Matt Sovis (Williamston, Mich./Williamston) scored on a header off of a long throw in from So. F Zach Vandeveer (Elk Rapids, Mich./Elk Rapids). The throw in went off of Jr. F Trae Pitts (N. Muskegon, Mich./N. Muskegon) to the waiting head of Sovis for a 1-0 lead.

Trine tied the game at 29:37 on a goal by Bill Wilson, but Sovis put the Scots back ahead 2-1 on an unassisted tally at the 33:15 mark. The Thunder retied the contest at 37:24 when Samuel Seibolt scored off of a deflection, sending the teams to halftime deadlocked at 2-2.

So. F Spencer Sandow (Midland, Mich./Midland) scored unassisted for Alma at 54:05 and held a 3-2 advantage until Trine tied it at 3-3 at 76:58 on a shot from the far right side. However, the Scots were not to be denied on this afternoon.

So. M Chad Buitenhuis (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) scored the game-winner on an assist by So. M/F Julian Birge (E. Lansing, Mich./E. Lansing) at 87:07, giving Alma the eventual 4-3 victory. Trine actually won the shot battle by a margin of 16-13, including 9-8 in shots on goal and the Thunder had three corner kicks to the Scots' one.

In net for Alma, Sr. GK Graham Wallace (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern) made six saves in earning the victory. Sovis and Sandow each had three shots on goal for the victors, while Buitenhuis and Jr. M/F Michael Smith (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel) had the others.

The Scots are now off until September 25, when they host Adrian College at Scotland Yard. The match is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.