Alma, Mich. - The Alma College men's soccer team began play in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association on Tuesday afternoon with a 1-0 win over Hope College.

The game's only goal was scored by Lucas Foust (Brooklyn, Mich./Jackson Lumen Christi) in the 82nd minute. The ball deflected off the sophomore after a free kick taken by Jake Geary (Novi, Mich./Novi), who was credited with the assist.

Noah Canlas (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) nearly put the Scots (5-1, 1-0 MIAA) on the board in the 20th minute. With the ball in the box and running to his left, he shot past Hope (2-4, 0-1 MIAA) keeper Blair McCormick but the ball was saved by a defenseman before it crossed the goal line.

Hope nearly tied the game in the 84th minute off a direct free kick. James Reymann's shot forced keeper Nick Strait (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) to make a jumping save and force the ball off the crossbar and out of bounds to maintain the lead for the Scots. Strait made six saves in the contest and earned his fourth clean sheet of the season.

Alma returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 17. They, along with the women's soccer team, will host Kalamazoo in a doubleheader at Scotland Yard beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Contact: Zach Russo, Assistant Sports Information Director, (989) 463-7436