Junior Elizabeth Perkins picked up right where she left off last season for the Hope College women's soccer team. Three newcomers, Rachael Braginton, Rylie Dalton and Mary Clare Theis, all recorded impressive debuts for the reigning Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions during Tuesday's season-opening win against Cornerstone at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Perkins and Braginton both scored twice in the 5-0 victory in front of a Van Andel Soccer Stadium crowd of 429.

Theis posted a shutout in her first start for Hope. The sophomore from East Lansing, Michigan (Haslett HS), totaled seven saves.

Perkins shared the team-high goals last season with nine. The forward from Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Lansing Christian HS), scored twice in a span of 3 ½ minutes, to stake the Flying Dutch to a 2-0 lead 24:13 into the first half.  The first goal came off a header, with an assist going to junior back Rachel deMarigny of Park Ridge, Illinois (Maine Township South HS).

Hope went on to lead 4-0 at halftime behind goals from Dalton, a midfielder from Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS), and Braginton, a forward from Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS).

Braginton added a second-half goal off an assist from sophomore Allie Wittenbach of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Central HS).

Hope returns to action this weekend with two games in Ohio. The Flying Dutch play at Otterbein Friday at 7 p.m. and at Ohio Northern Saturday at 5 p.m.