GAMBIER, Ohio - For the third time in program history, the Calvin men's soccer team is headed to the NCAA Division III Tournament Semifinals.

Ranked No. 1 in the country, Calvin (24-0-1) advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 victory at No. 3 Kenyon (19-2-1)  on Saturday in a national quarterfinal match.

Calvin will face the winner of a Monday quarterfinal game between Wheaton and Loras on December 4 in the NCAA DIII Semifinals in Kansas City, Mo. The Knights previously reached the national semifinals in both 2011 and 2009, eventually losing in the national championship final both years.

Calvin rode the heroics of senior goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos and freshman midfielder Jacob Witte to claim victory.

Giantsopoulos collected three saves including a smothering stop of a breakaway by Kenyon with just over 10 minutes left in regulation. With the win, he recorded his 19th shutout of the season, setting a new NCAA DIII single-season record, breaking the previous mark of 18 set by Joel Wallace of MacMurray College in 1991.

Just over four minutes later, Calvin created a breakaway of its own with Witte pouncing on the loose ball. Witte’s eventual score in the 84th minute yielded the final score. The goal was the fifth of the year for Witte who had come on in reserve in the second half.

Kenyon finished the game with a 10-7 shots on goal advantage including 8-3 in the second half.

Calvin head coach Ryan Souders will lead Calvin into the NCAA National Semifinals for the first time in December. He previously reached the national semifinals as the starting goalkeeper for Wheaton in 2006, helping the Thunder reach the national championship final before falling to Messiah. 

Calvin is now 16-12-8 all-time in NCAA DIII Tournament action. The Knights are 3-2-0 in NCAA DIII quarterfinal games, having won in 2015, 2011 and 2009 and fallen in 2010 and 1980.