Maria DeShaw made the most of her free kick for the Hope College women's soccer team.

The senior from Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS), scored the go-ahead goal in a 2-1 win against Albion Thursday by tucking in her free kick just inside the left post.

Photo of DeShaw by Monica Dwyer

DeShaw's second goal of the season propelled the top-seeded Flying Dutch into the championship match of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament. 

Hope (16-3-1 overall) will host second-seeded Kalamazoo (14-5-1) on Saturday, Nov. 8, at noon at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Kalamazoo defeated third-seeded Alma 5-1 in Thursday's other semifinal.

Saturday's winner earns the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

DeShaw snapped a 1-1 tie by scoring with 14 minutes remaining in the second half. She took the free kick after sophomore Elizabeth Perkins of Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Lansing Christian HS), drew a foul just outside the penalty area. 

DeShaw told the Holland Sentinel that coach Leigh Sears and the Flying Dutch talked about free kicks at practice on Wednesday.

"I saw the goalie was on the far post and that side of the net was open, so I just kind of took it," DeShaw said.

Freshman Allie Wittenbach of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Central HS), pulled Hope even with 12:55 remaining in the first half with a shot from 18 yards out. Senior Lindsey Bieri of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS), had the assist.

Albion grabbed a 1-0 lead 11:59 into the first half.

Wittenbach now has seven goals on the season.

The Flying Dutch's 16 wins are tied for the second-most in team history. They trail only the 2005 team that went 18-2-1 under Sears. 

This is Hope's third consecutive appearance in the MIAA Tournament championship game and fourth overall.