HOLLAND, Mich. -- The Trine women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 contest to Hope in MIAA-action Monday night in Van Andel Stadium.
A pair of Flying Dutch goals in the first 7:31 of the match proved too much for the Thunder to overcome. Both Hope goals came on passes from Erin Brophy to Allie Wittenbach. Kristen Reece (Indianapolis, Ind. / Roncalli) tallied her first career goal for Trine. The Thunder fell to 0-3-2 overall and 0-2 in MIAA matches. The Dutch improved to 3-1-1 overall, 2-0-1 in conference play.
Brophy and Wittenbach connected on the first tally just 3:57 into the match. The duo connected again just over three minutes later to make the score 2-0 in the early going. The performance gave Wittenbach four goals on the season.
Trine cut the deficit to one on Reece's goal at the 36:24 mark of the first half. Carly Osinski (Noblesville, Ind. / Guerin Catholic) sent a free kick into the box, which pinballed off a couple players. Reece collected the loose ball on the left side of the box, stepped in and beat the keeper with a shot for her first collegiate tally.
Kristina Veljovic's (Valparaiso, Ind. / Valparaiso) effort in net kept the Thunder within striking distance the rest of the way. The junior turned aside a career-high 18 saves in the effort. Veljovic leads the MIAA in saves per match. The work of Trine's defenders helped limit the quality of Hope's scoring chances in the second half.
The Thunder return to action Thursday, Sep. 15 with a home match against Saint Mary's. Kickoff at Weaver Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.