Photos: Britons Clash With Hope, Trine, Alma, Calvin Over Homecoming Weekend

A football player in a purple Albion uniform runs with the ball, pursued by Alma opponents in white. The crowd watches, creating a tense, action-packed scene. — South Lyon junior Braden Fracassi charges down the field before breaking through Alma’s defenses during Saturday’s home game. Football was one of four sports that would have a loss over the weekend (Photo by Elly Cantoni).

Parking lots and bleachers were packed this weekend with supporters coming to watch the five sporting events of Homecoming weekend.

The Britons lost to almost all of their competitors, and Director of Athletics Jennifer Rushton said that while the weekend’s results weren’t what Albion athletics was hoping for, several of the games “could have gone either way.”

“We would have loved to have won a couple of those games, for sure,” Rushton said. “It’s competition, that’s how it goes sometimes.”

Rushton added that Albion overall has “very young teams,” and the weekend was populated with games against “some of the top teams in the conference.”

“I love how our teams compete, I love how our coaches coach,” Rushton said. “We had some very competitive matches out there.”

Volleyball Against the Hope Flying Dutchmen

A volleyball player in a purple Albion uniform prepares to dig a ball on a court, focused and intense. Teammates and spectators watch in the background. — Caledonia junior Paige Williamson digs for the ball. As libero, Williamson typically wears a specialized jersey and primarily stays in the back row as the centralized defense, a role she said comes with “court responsibility” (Photo by Elly Cantoni).

The Britons lost 3-1 against Hope College on Friday. Caledonia junior and defensive lead Paige Williamson said the team “struggled a little bit on the consistency side,” but added that the second set, which Albion won, showed the team’s strengths.

“The second set really showed that we can be consistent, and we can compete against good teams,” Williamson said.

In regard to the rest of the season, Williamson said she expects to face Hope again, and “would rather play them now and learn from it.”

“I’m proud of what we did,” Williamson said.

The team was left with an overall score of 18-3 for the season. They face Trine University at Angola, Indiana today at 6:30 p.m.

eSports Invitational Against the Trine Thunder

Two people sit in front of a computer at a long table at the frog of a large room with white walls and several windows. Beside them is a projector screen with a video game playing, and several rows of young people in chairs face the image. — An eSports team member from Albion’s Smash team plays a match against a competitor from Trine University. Albion would go on to win this match (Photo by Bonnie Lord).

As a part of Kaos in the KC Friday evening, the Britons eSports team hosted an invitational with Trine University, playing matches that were open to an audience.

Grand Rapids first-year and eSports player Magnus Farris said having people watching the game in real time made themself feel “a lot more confident.”

“At the same time, there’s a lot more pressure on you,” Farris said. “It’s less of a fun game and more of a performance.”

Farris played the second round for Albion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Smash), which Albion went on to win overall. Farris said the team’s leagued season is going “pretty well.”

According to eSports head coach Andrew Bigos, in Smash, Albion is 1-1 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference, 2-5 in the Great Lakes eSports Conference and 1-0 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The team’s next competition will be against Ashland University on Friday.

Football Against the Alma Scots

A football player in a purple Albion jersey leaps over teammates, attempting to score against opponents in white Alma jerseys on a grassy field, conveying determination. — Albion’s defense line disrupts Alma’s offense, clashing with multiple players. Head football coach Travis Rundle said each component of Albion’s team “played well” on Saturday (Photo by Elly Cantoni).

The Scots bested the Britons on Saturday 48-27, leaving Albion with a losing majority of 2-4 for the season.

Head football coach Travis Rundle said Albion made a “great effort” on the field, and “competed at a high level.”

Rundle highlighted St. Joseph first-year Davis Crossman, Reading fifth-year Dilon Denison, Jackson sophomore Amarr Hunter and Belleville senior Cam Moore, adding that the team as a whole “played well against a high-quality opponent.”

“We didn’t get the win, but overall the effort level was there,” Rundle said.

Moving forward, Rundle said Albion is focused on winning the next game. The Britons face Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Men’s Soccer Against the Hope Flying Dutchmen

A soccer player in a white Albion uniform prepares to kick a ball on a field. Teammates in blue vests watch from the sidelines. Autumn trees in the background. — Rotterdam, Netherlands, sophomore Binck-Jan Bakker moves to kick the ball to another teammate. Bakker played the full 90 minutes on the field (Photo by Elly Cantoni).

The Britons lost to Hope on the field Saturday 2-1 according to gobrits.com, Albion’s athletics website, despite a penalty goal made in the second half by Ypsilanti sophomore Esteban Mercado, leaving the score 1-1.

Hope College overcame this tie with a goal from the edge of the penalty box at the Briton’s net, which head soccer coach Wytse Molenaar said was a “great, great goal.”

“He’s probably going to hit that shot maybe one more time in his life,” Molenaar said. “Outside of that, they didn’t really create anything in the second half.”

As for the rest of the season, the game doesn’t represent any lost ground for Molenaar.

“We did enough to be in this game, and really compete with what’s been one of the powerhouses in our conference,” Molenaar said.

The team is 11-2 with one tie for the season after a 4-3 win last night against Calvin University, and competes again at home Saturday at noon against Olivet.

Women’s Soccer Against the Calvin Knights

A soccer player in an Albion jersey kicks a ball on a green field, near a net. She displays focus and determination under a partly cloudy sky. — Berkeley sophomore Maddie Welsh prepares to kick the ball across the soccer field. As goalie, Welsh made six saves over the 90-minute game (Photo courtesy of Steven Kline).

The Britons lost to Calvin University 5-1 on Saturday, leaving the Britons with an overall winning score of 8-4 and one tie for the season.

After a late start due to lightning, West Bloomfield sophomore Mia Czarnowski said the game began with an early strike from the Britons in the first five minutes.

“We believed in ourselves that we would keep up to their pace to a certain degree,” Czarnowski said. “But we didn’t think in our craziest dreams that we would strike first.”

Despite subsequent goals from the Knights, Czarnowski said the team was proud of their performance.

“They’re the number one team in the conference, but we can keep up with them, we can battle,” Czarnowski said.

As for the season overall, Czarnowski said this year is “definitely an improvement” on their last season, in both energy and team dynamics.

“I’m excited for what’s to come,” Czarnowski said. “I think there are great things to come.”

The team will face Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, today at 4 p.m.

Bonnie Lord also contributed reporting to this story.