HOLLAND, Mich. – In the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championship game, the Trine University women's lacrosse team was defeated by Hope College by a score of 20-8. The Flying Dutch (13-4) advance to the NCAA Tournament with the win while the Thunder (12-6) set a new record for most wins in a season.
Trine fell behind 2-0 in the opening minutes of the game, but Brooke Hoag found Nikki Hibler for the team's first goal of the day with 12:53 to go in the first quarter. Hope would dominate the remainder of the period, but Alyssa Keptner scored just before the final horn to make it 8-2 Flying Dutch.
The lead for Hope was extended all the way to 12-2 with under ten minutes to go in the second quarter. The defense for the Thunder settled in to close the frame and scores by Elizabeth Larson and Lillian O'Neal cut into the gap slightly at 12-4.
Courtney Rhodes made it three consecutive goals for Trine as she scored while up a man at the start of the second half. Danielle Gargiulo would do the same on an additional man up opportunity to make it 13-6. The Flying Dutch rattled off three in a row to increase their advantage to 16-6 with 15 minutes to play.
Hoag netted two goals in the fourth quarter, one coming on a free position attempt, but at game's end it was 20-8 as the Flying Dutch clinched their second consecutive conference championship.
The draw control circle was won by Hope to the tune of a 26-5 differential. The Flying Dutch outshot the Thunder 39-13. In goal, Maddy Kasten (11-6) made ten saves and collected a team-high five ground balls. A balanced defensive attack saw the team cause 13 of Hope's 21 turnovers. Hoag's five points (two goals, three assists) paced the offense.