Erin Powers, pictured right, picked a good time to score her first goal of the season.

The junior drilled a low shot into the net 11 minutes into the game to help the Hope College women's soccer team beat North Central College, 3-0, on Wednesday at Van Andel Soccer Stdium.

"It feels good to have some things open up," said Powers, who is from Norton Shores, Michigan (Mona Shores HS). "We've been focusing on shooting low and to the corners. So seeing what we've been working on in practice being executed in a game is really big for us going into conference play. I've been waiting for that (goal), and I got a good rip on it." 

Hope, which also got goals from Sarah Mikesell and Madison Holloway, improves to 6-2. 

The Flying Dutch had scored just two goals in their past four games, so head coach Leigh Sears was happy to see her team put the ball in the net three times.

"It was awesome," Sears said. "We'd been struggling to put it in. We told (our players) before the game that if we could get one (goal) that the lid was going come off, and we'd keep scoring. It was great."

Hope made it 2-0 when Mikesell (Norton Shores, Mich./Mona Shores HS) scored her fifth goal of the season at the 15-minute mark. 

The first two goals were assisted by Caroline Burkhardt (Louisville, Ky./Martha Layne Collins HS), pictured left.

"Caroline is the playmaker of our team," Powers said. "She works day in and day out. She's always pushing us to be better. It's huge to have her on the field and putting us in position to win games." 

Burkhardt, a senior midfielder, has three assists this season and six for her career. She has one career goal.

Watch post-game interview with Caroline Burkhardt

Holloway (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) gave the Flying Dutch a 3-0 lead when the sophomore scored her team-high eighth goal off a rebound. Elisa Melville floated a shot above the hands of North Central goalkeeper Riley Lindsey, but the ball was deflected right to the feet of Holloway. 

"We could have had more," Sears said. "But they (North Central) were really dangerous up top, too. And they probably could have put in a couple. That's why I love soccer so much. It can go either way."

Sears said she was happy to see her goalkeeper Parker Hutchinson get her fifth shutout of the season.

"She's a great keeper," Sears said. "We brought her in here to play. It was going to be a battle between her and Isabelle Bertolone (Muskegon, Mich. / Muskegon Catholic Central HS). But Isabelle broke her finger. So Parker got the job and she's just run with it. She's been good."

Hutchinson, a sophomore from Ada, Mich. (Forest Hills Northern HS) stopped all six shots she faced. 

Hope College outshot North Central (6-4-1), 13-7. 

The Flying Dutch travel to Saint Mary's on Saturday, Oct. 2 for their first MIAA game of the season. Game time is 12 p.m.