HOLLAND, Mich. - It was a tough end to the season for the Trine University women's lacrosse team as they battled back to send their game into overtime against Hope College, but fell 12-11. The loss eliminates the Thunder from qualifying for the first MIAA Tournament as they end their season 5-6 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA.
Hope started the game scoring just 28 seconds in and added another as they jumped out to an early lead. Trine sophomore Taylor Gast (Akron, Ind./Tippecanoe Valley) notched he 18th goal of the year with 22:29 to play in the first. It would take 10 minutes before another goal was scored as the Dutch pushed their lead back to two.
From there, the goals would come fast and furious as Trine freshman Anne Mammel (Tecumseh, Mich./Tecumseh) answered with a goal less than two minutes later on an assist from Gast. Less than 20 seconds later it would be Hope with another goal. Just 43 seconds after that it was junior Darcy Little (Williamsburg, Ohio/Williamsburg) scoring for the Thunder on an assist from fellow junior Lauren Hood (Austintown, Ohio/Mineral Ridge).
Hope added their fifth goal just 35 seconds after Little's goal before sophomore Kassi Armstrong (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) scored 15 seconds after that at the 9:06 mark. Gast notched her second goal of the game at 7:44 to even the game at 5-5.
Hope would score at 3:36 on a free position shot to take the lead but Trine would answer right back as senior Emily Canepa (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) scored just 26 seconds later to tied the game at 6-6 headed into halftime.
Five minutes into the second half, Hope took back the lead. Once again though, the Thunder quickly answered as Mammel scored on an assist from Armstrong at 23:33. Just 17 seconds later Hope would retake the lead 8-7.
Trine would again tie the game as Mammel netted a hat-trick off an assist from fellow freshman Bronti Belanger (Haslett, Mich./Haslett). The Dutch wouldn't allow the Thunder to take the lead as they once again scored with 19:29 remaining in the game.
Hope would take a two goal lead with 14:31 to play but Belanger would pull the Thunder within one with 13:35 left in the game. Four minutes later it was Canepa pulling through for the Thunder as she tied the game 10-10 with 9:30 left in the game.
Neither team would score in the final minutes as the game headed to overtime, the first ever OT game in MIAA women's conference play.
In the first overtime, Hope struck first with 1:50 to play. Trine would answer with a hat-trick goal from Canepa to tie the game at 11 going into the second, three minute period.
Hope would notch the first goal in the second overtime just 16 seconds in for what would be the game-winner as the Thunder were unable to get a shot off in the second extra frame.
Sophomore Grace Garrett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) made a career-high 16 saves on the night and had a game-high seven groundballs and three caused turnovers. Canepa had a game-high six draw controls and snagged five groundballs while causing three turnovers. Belanger and junior Danielle Reuter (Harrison, Ohio/Harrison) also forced three turnovers on the night. Little would snare five draw controls while Belanger grabbed three.
It was just the second overtime in Trine school history. The other came on April 21, 2011 as the Thunder defeated Fontbonne by a near identical score of 13-12.
Canepa ends her four-year Trine career as the school leader in groundballs (158) and caused turnovers (80); second in goals (86) and draw controls (89); tied for second in assists (16); and third in points (102).