by Lenny Padilla

Natalie Hammer lived up to her last name.

The freshman from Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS) scored on a penalty kick in the first half as the Hope College women's soccer team beat host Kalamazoo College 1-0 on Monday night.

Hammer's goal was the first goal scored on the Hornets all season.

The Flying Dutch concluded the regular season with a 3-1-1 overall and MIAA records. Kalamazoo fell to 4-1.

With 10:19 to go in the first half, Kalamazoo was called for a foul in the box. Hammer, pictured right, took the penalty kick and hammered the shot to the lower right corner for the goal with her right foot.

It was Hammer's team-leading fourth goal of the season.

Seconds later, Hope College goalkeeper Jordanne Ellingboe, pictured left, made back-to-back saves point-blank shots by Kalamazoo's Kai Ketola. 

Ellingboe, a senior from Grand Haven, Michigan, (Grand Haven HS) came out of the net to make the first save, but the rebound went right back to Ketola, who ripped a second shot. Ellingboe made the save again.

The score was 1-0 at halftime.

Hope had a great chance to score with 23 minutes left in the match. Kalamazoo was called for a foul and Hope defender Jenna Mustapha, a freshman from Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Northern HS) took the shot. Mustapha drilled a shot from 40-yards out that Kalamazoo goalkeeper Hannah Wolfe made a leaping save at the crossbar.

Hope only had two corner kicks all match and didn't have its first until eight minutes left. Kalamazoo only had one corner kick. 

Ellingboe faced nine shots, including four shots on goal, and made all four saves. The Hope offense had seven shots including six on goal. Hammer had three shots and Mustapha had two.

Hope's next game will be in the MIAA Tournament on Monday, April 19. Pairings are to be announced later this week.