Despite a lightning delay late in the second half, Elizabeth Perkins never lost her scoring touch for the Hope College women's soccer team.

Shortly after the senior from Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Lansing Christian HS) returned to the field, she delivered her third and final goal of the day for the game-winner in a 4-3 victory at Trine on Wednesday.

Perkins, pictured, headed in a pass from junior Allie Wittenbach of Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Central HS) with 3 minutes, 55 seconds left in regulation.

The match had been stopped on the game clock about nine minutes earlier because of lightning. NCAA rules require at least a 30-minute delay after lightning is seen.

Hope improved to 9-2-2 overall and 8-1-2 overall in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play. The Flying Dutch are in second place in the league standings.

Perkins now has a MIAA-leading 17 goals on the season - good for fourth most all-time by a Flying Dutch player. She is two off matching the school record after her second hat trick of the season.

Perkins entered the match tied for eighth in Division III in goals scored.

Perkins also upped her career goal total to 31 in three seasons. She passed Melody Morscheck for fifth place. Morscheck totaled 30 goals between 1995-98.

Junior Erin Brophy of West Lafayette, Indiana (West Lafayette) tied the score at 3-3 with her fourth goal of the season. Senior Natalie Curry of Grandville, Michigan (Calvin Christian HS) set up Brophy for the score 13 ½ minutes into the second half. Trine had taken the lead just three minutes earlier.

Hope overcame a 2-0 deficit 13:19 into the first half. The Flying Dutch tied the score with goals from Perkins with 14:05 left in the half off an assist from junior Hilary Curry of Grandville, Michigan (Calvin Christian) and with 1:47 remaining in the half off an assist from sophomore Grace Bubin of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS).

Trine dropped to 2-9-2 overall and 2-9 in MIAA matches.

Hope returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 15 with an 11 a.m. match at Albion.