Box Score 
Nora Kirk's first-half goal and Kat Dickson's goalkeeping boosted the Hope women's soccer team to a 1-0 win at Alma on Thursday in the semifinals of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament.
The Flying Dutch (16-3-1 overall) advanced to Saturday's title match at Calvin. They will play immediately after the conclusion of the noon MIAA men's championship match.
Kirk, a junior forward from Maumee, Ohio (Notre Dame Academy) scored in the 37th minute. She finished off a cross from junior Erin Jipping, a midfielder from Holland (West Ottawa HS).
It was Kirk's sixth goal of the season.
Dickson, a junior from Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake Central HS), made 10 saves for Hope's ninth shutout of the season. The Flying Dutch were outshot by a 20-11 margin and forced Alma to make only one save.
"After the first 15 minutes, our defense did a really good job of staying composed and organized," Hope coach Leigh Sears said. "Kat had a great game. It was a fight down to the last second."
The trip to Calvin will be Hope's second in less than a week. The Flying Dutch lost there 1-0 on Monday in the regular-season finale.
Top-seeded Calvin (13-2-1) defeated fourth-seeded Adrian 3-0 in Thursday's other semifinal.
Saturday's winner lands the MIAA"s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
"The kids are excited to go back to Calvin. We know we can do better." Sears said. "Our goal was to get to the NCAA Tournament. This is our way to do it."
