The 22nd-ranked Hope College women's soccer team makes its sixth consecutive appearance in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament Championship match on Saturday at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is noon.
The Flying Dutch (17-2-1 overall) enter the final as the No. 1 seed after winning the regular-season title for the sixth time with a 14-1-1 league record. They defeated fourth-seeded Calvin College 1-0 in Thursday's semifinal.
Second-seeded Olivet College (13-6-1) advanced from Thursday's semifinal after a 0-0 tie and topping Adrian College 5-4 on penalty kicks.
Today's winner receives the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship. The field is announced on Monday on NCAA.com.
The Flying Dutch are seeking their second MIAA Tournament title in a row and third in four years. They defeated Alma College 4-2 in the 2016 final and Kalamazoo College on penalty kicks in 2014. Hope is 2-4 all-time in MIAA Tournament championship matches.
This is Olivet's second MIAA Tournament title game appearance. The Comets beat Kalamazoo 5-3 in the 1998 final.
The Flying Dutch own a 15-10 record all-time in MIAA Tournament play since it was first held in 1996.
Hope has qualified for the MIAA Tournament seven of eight times since the league moved to a four-team postseason format in 2010.
This season, Hope defeated Olivet twice: 4-0 at Olivet on September 11 and 4-0 at Van Andel Soccer Stadium on October 10.
Head coach Leigh Sears is in her 17th season with the Flying Dutch. She has a career record at Hope of 208-104-24.
Junior forward Grace Bubin tops the Flying Dutch this season with 11 goals and 27 points. She also has five assists. She is a first-team All-MIAA selection along with teammate and senior forward Allie Wittenbach.
Eight different Hope players have scored at least five goals this season. Senior Allie Wittenbach and junior Rylie Dalton are tied for second with seven apiece.
MIAA Tournament Schedule & Other Information
MIAA Tournament Program (PDF)
MIAA Statistics
