Photo by Monica Dwyer

Tymi Staub delivered the decisive strike in a shootout for the Hope College women's soccer team.

The freshman reserve from Ann Arbor, Michigan (Gabriel Richard HS), made the Flying Dutch the winner in the championship match of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Hope (16-3-2 overall) receives the MIAA's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament after winning the league tournament for the first time.

The national pairings will be announced on Monday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m. Click here for a link to watch the NCAA show.

Staub told The Holland Sentinel it felt great to help the Flying Dutch outlast Kalamazoo and guarantee their fourth NCAA Division III Tournament appearance.

"I'm so happy for my team and so proud of everyone," Staub said. "It's been the best experience I've ever had, and I'm so lucky to be here."

Staub gave the Flying Dutch an eighth-round win in the shootout. Penalty kicks were needed after neither team scored during 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime

Hope coach Leigh Sears told The Sentinel she chose Staub for the shootout because of her consistency all season in practice. 

"We talked all year about how you never know when you're going to be called on to step up, and today was that day," Sears said. "She's not played a lot, and she got her chance to do something big."

Four others scored in the shootout for Hope: freshman Erin Brophy of West Lafeyette, Indiana (West Lafayette HS), senior Nora Kirk of Maumee, Ohio (Notre Dame Academy), sophomore Elizabeth Perkins of Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Lansing Christian HS), and Maddie Buursma of Grandville, Michigan (Calvin Christian HS).

Senior goalie Kat Dickson of Grayslake, Illinois (Grayslake Central HS), recorded seven saves during regulation and overtime play.