Box Score Levi Noblitt connected on a game-tying penalty kick in the second half, but an overtime goal gave nationally-ranked Hope College the 2-1 victory over Wabash in the soccer season opener at Mud Hollow Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Little Giants trailed 1-0 at halftime before first-year coach Chris Keller changed the offensive attack, producing eight second-half shot attempts and the eventual equalizer in the first match of the Third Annual Robbie Dreher Classic.

The Flying Dutchmen outshot Wabash 6-0 in the opening period before Keller moved the team into a four-man attacking front. The Little Giants doubled the offensive output of Hope in the final 45 minutes of regulation 8-4.

"The first half we played too much direct soccer," Keller said. "We weren't really looking to play to feet. I think the speed of play for a lot the guys that didn't have a lot of experience was a little overwhelming in the first half. They adjusted well and realized they had more time on the ball than they thought they might.

"We made the adjustment to the four-man front in the second half and it really worked. We had the ball in their end a majority of the time. Those were good, positive things to take away from today. Unfortunately we gave away a soft goal in the overtime, but credit Hope as well because they played hard all day and they're a very good program."

Hope drew first blood in the 44th minute when Nicholas Heyboar scored to put the visitors up 1-0. Wabash knotted the score when a shot attempt by Blake Jennings in the box was blocked by a defender. A hand ball was called on the play, providing Noblitt the penalty kick opportunity in the 72nd minute. His shot attempt sailed past goalkeeper Ben Lemmen for a 1-1 match.

Wabash fired four shots in the final minutes of the match, including an effort by freshman Braden Burkett in the final seconds that just sailed over the top of the post, sending the match into overtime.

Hope (1-1), ranked 20th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll, pressed the attack in the extra 10-minute session. Wabash turned several passes away in the defensive end of the field in the first overtime before Logan Sikkenga got free on the left wing in the 95th minute. His cross into the box found Jason Muller for the game-winning goal.

Lemmen faced only one shot on goal — the penalty kick by Noblitt. Wabash goalkeeper Matt Paul made four saves out of six shots on goal by Hope. Evan Coudriet and Burkett each finished with two total shots for the Little Giants.

"Overall I'm happy with the performance," Keller said. "Obviously we're never happy with a loss, but to play the 20th-ranked team in the nation that went to the round-of-eight in last year's NCAA Division III Soccer Tournament with our young team allowed us to show the type of effort we can bring to the match.

"We gained good experience from this match. Now we need to learn from today and begin our attack from minute one in Sunday's contest."

Wabash (0-1) will face Monmouth College from Illinois on Sunday  at 2 p.m. at home in the final match of the Classic. Monmouth lost 5-0 at DePauw on Saturday afternoon.