by Lenny Padilla

The Hope College women's soccer team lost 1-0 to Knox College on Saturday afternoon in Galesburg, Illinois.

The Flying Dutch, despite taking more shots and having more corners kicks than the Prairie Fire, couldn't convert and are shutout for the first time this season. Hope falls to 3-1 and Knox improves to 1-3. Entering the game, the Flying Dutch had outscored their opponents by a combined score of 10-1.

The lone goal was scored by Knox's Lydia Mitchell at the 49 minute mark of the second half.

With seven minutes left in the game, Hope keeper Parker Hutchinson, a sophomore from Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Northern HS), pictured, made a nice save when Mitchell stole the ball at midfield and weaved around two defenders. But Hutchinson came out of the net to challenge Mitchell for the save.

On a flurry of shots with five minutes left, Hutchinson made another big save on a point-blank shot from the right side of the net.

Under four minutes to go, Hope's Erin Powers (Norton Shores, Michigan / Mona Shores HS) had a great centering pass to Caroline Burkhardt (Louisville, Ky. / Martha Layne Collins HS), but the shot went wide left. Powers had one last shot with 1:40 to go, but it was stopped by the Knox keeper.

Hutchinson had seven saves. The Flying Dutch took 21 shots compared to 12 by Knox. They also had six corner kicks and Knox had none.  

Hope College returns home to play Elmhurst College on Tuesday, Sept. 14 for a 7 p.m. contest at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.