by Lenny Padilla

Orange and navy blue are the Hope College school colors.

But for one day, the women's soccer team and fans were decked out in pink.

On Saturday afternoon at Van Andel Soccer Stadium, the Flying Dutch honored their head coach, Leigh Sears, who battled through breast cancer in the past two seasons. The team put on pink shirts and posed for a group photo with friends and alumni after beating Trine University, 2-1.

"It means a lot," Sears said. "It's a long journey, and they've been with me the whole time. All throughout this, I've had a list of about 70 alumni that I'd email weekly to keep them in the loop. It's nice that they all came out today."

On the Athletics Blog: Coach Leigh Sears — Cancer Survivor. Coach. Educator. Role Model 

Hope College got second-half goals from Anna Biebel and Margaret Owsiany to improve to 2-1 in the MIAA and 8-3 overall. They did it by beating a previously unbeaten Trine, who falls to 11-1-1 and 2-1 in the league.

"It was huge for us," said senior Sarah Mikesell (Norton Shores, Mich./Mona Shores HS). "Especially since we were coming off our game against Calvin (a 2-1 loss) and we were feeling a little defeated. So we wanted to come out and show the MIAA what we can do and I think we did that."

Hope dominated the second half in time of possession.

"We knew they are ranked in the region, and we know they're so much better than they've been in the past," Sears said. "They've brought in 16 freshmen and their goalkeeper is really good."

Hope peppered Trine goalkeeper Sophie Aschemeier with 21 shots, including 10 that were on net. 

Biebel (Grand Rapids, Mich.Forest Hills Northern HS) gave Hope a 1-0 lead  with her third goal of the season at the 57-minute mark.

"It was huge," Sears said of the goal. "Their keeper is good and we had opportunities. In soccer, we can possess the ball 80 percent of the time, but you still have to put the ball in the net."

But the Thunder scored less than a minute later when Olivia Buttersworth dribbled through two defenders and scored to tie it at 1-1.

With nine minutes left in the game, Mikesell drilled a shot that was inches wide right. But she had Owsiany (Westerville, Ohio / Westerville Central HS) open in the center of the box and chose not to pass. She got a second chance as the identical situation happened moments later.

Post-game interview with Margaret Owsiany

"I would like to think I learn from my mistakes," Mikesell said with a laugh. "Sometimes I'm so focused on the goal that I get a little bit of tunnel vision to the net. I knew it didn't work out for me on the play before, so I saw Margaret the second time."

And the left-footed Mikesell made the pass with her right foot.

"I am left-footed, I think that's pretty obvious to people that we play against," Mikesell said. "Their defense played me pretty good, so I knew I had to switch something up. I saw Margaret and I knew I could pass it to her with my right foot."

Hope keeper Parker Hutchinson (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS) stopped one of the two shots on net.

For Mikesell, who was wearing her pink shirt after the game, the results of Saturday's game were secondary.

"Leigh is the glue that holds our whole program together," she said of her coach. "When we found out she got battling breast cancer (in March 2020), we wanted to do something to support her. We wanted to celebrate her and recognize the battle that she's fought and that we're supporting her through it all."

With the win and in their pink shirts, the Flying Dutch did just that.

Hope returns to play on Tuesday, Oct. 12 when it travels to Albion College for a 7 p.m. contest.