by Alan Babbitt

An early second-half comeback brought the Hope College women's soccer team even with Adrian College briefly.

Unfortunately for the Flying Dutch, their opponent answered decisively.

Adrian struck for three goals in a span of 11 minutes, 14 seconds to hand Hope a 5-3 loss on Thursday at Van Andel Soccer Stadium and moved into a first-place tie with Calvin University.

The game was played after being postponed on Saturday due to COVID protocols. The Flying Dutch played for the second time in two days after winning at Alma College, 2-0, on Wednesday.

Hope is now 9-4-1 on the season and 3-2-1 in MIAA play. The Flying Dutch are in fifth place in the league standings with a game against Kalamazoo College on Saturday, Oct. 23, at noon at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

After trailing 2-0 at halftime, Hope evened the score with two goals in the first nine minutes of the second half.

Four minutes in, sophomore forward Madison Holloway knocked in a short pass from the right backline from senior forward Sarah Mikesell for the Flying Dutch's first goal of the game.

Holloway (Macatawa, Michigan / Holland Christian HS) now has a team-leading nine goals for the season.

About five minutes later, Mikesell (Norton Shores, Michigan / Mona Shores) ripped a left-footed shot from the top of the penalty area after a failed Adrian clear. Her eighth goal of the season tied the score at 2-2.

Adrian (10-6, 5-1 MIAA) didn't take long to answer.

Five minutes later, Eve Davis fed a streaking Alexandria Dryps just inside the penalty area, and Davis buried a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner. Davis finished with one goal and a game-high two assists.

Kaitlyn Drake and Mckenna Mahoney then each scored, and the Bulldogs broke away for a 5-2 lead with 20 minutes left.

The five goals are the most scored by a Hope opponent at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Adrian surpassed the previous mark of four set by Calvin in a 4-0 win on October 19, 2010.

With four minutes remaining, Hope forward Bella Nagelkirk knocked in her first goal of the season.

The freshman from Hudsonville, Michigan (Unity Christian) buried a rebound from a shot by Breck McCloskey (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern), who registered an assist.