The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-champion Hope College women's soccer team looks to add to its trophy chase with a league tournament title today at noon at Van Andel Stadium.
The second-seeded Flying Dutch welcome the fourth-seeded Alma Scots, which advanced past top-seeded Kalamazoo on penalty kicks on Thursday. Hope defeated third-seeded in Thursday's other semifinal.
Today's winner receives the MIAA's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The 64-team field is announced on Monday at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com/liveschedule.
Records: Hope 14-2-2 overall, Alma 9-5-5
Click here to view the MIAA Tournament program.
Tickets can be purchased the gate: General Admission - $7; MIAA Faculty/Staff with ID, Non-MIAA students - $5; MIAA students will be admitted free with their student ID.
This is Hope's sixth appearance in the MIAA Tournament title match and fifth in a row. The Flying Dutch are 1-4 in league tournament finals, beating Kalamazoo penalty kicks in 2014 at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Hope lost to Calvin the other four appearances, including a 3-0 defeat in 2015. Alma is making its second appearance and first since winning 1-0 over Adrian in the 2011 final.
Hope went 1-0-1 against Alma this season, tying 1-1 in double overtime at Van Andel Soccer Stadium on September 20 and winning 4-1 at Alma on October 22. Senior Elizabeth Perkins had a foot in all five of the Flying Dutch's goals against Alma this season with three goals and two assists.
Senior Elizabeth Perkins is tied for third in NCAA Division III with a school-record 23 goals this season. She scored 19 times in MIAA regular-season play, tying for the sixth all-time by an MIAA player.
Elizabeth Perkins also has contributed a team-high seven assists this season. Her 53 points this season are a school record.
The Flying Dutch claimed a share of the MIAA regular-season championship with a 12-2-0 league record. They tied Kalamazoo for first place. Hope earned the second seed for the MIAA Tournament because Kalamazoo had a better head-to-head record with one win and one tie against the Flying Dutch this season.
Elizabeth Perkins has 37 career goals — fourth-most in Flying Dutch history. She needs one goal to equal Dawn Gillam (2001-04) for third place. The school record is 50.
Junior Erin Brophy has scored a career-high nine goals this season.
Sisters Natalie Curry, a senior, and Hilary Curry, a sophomore, both have reached career-highs with five goals this season.
