by Mackenzie McMahon

The Hope College women's lacrosse team couldn't complete a third quarter comeback on the road against Capitol University.

Senior Madison Micho (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids HS) started things off for Hope at the 12:20 mark into the first quarter, unassisted. Sophie Ackerman, a senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids) put in goal number two, with an assist from freshman Kerrigan Brown (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt), and at the end of the first it, Capitol led with a 6-2 score. 

Micho put in her second goal of the game, the lone Hope goal within the second quarter. After the half, Capital had an 8-3 lead. 

The Flying Dutch went on a four goal unanswered streak over a 5 minute stretch at the mid-way mark of the 3rd quarter. The streak began with a Kristen Szost (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison International Academy) goal after a pass from Ruthie Anderson to shorten Capital's lead to five. Sophomore Elena Salazar (Howell, Michigan / Hartland) pitched in two back-to-back goals  to make it 9-6, still in Capital's favor. Micho would grab her third goal of the game to end the blue and orange scoring streak. 

"We started playing our style of lacrosse, which is just super fast and we act on instinct and go to cage when we see it," said head coach Keagan Pontious of the third quarter play. 

Freshman Juli Kirkpatrick (Granger, Indiana / Penn) tallied an unassisted goal three minutes later, but not before Capitol could find their tenth goal. 

The fourth quarter had five total Hope College goals, however the Capital lead could not be overtaken, despite the Flying Dutch coming within two goals, twice throughout the final game play. Anderson would find a goal of her own at the 7:48 mark, followed by a Szost and a Salazar tally to make it 13-11 in favor of the hosting team, Capitol. The two teams would trade goals back and fourth for a total of four before the end of the game, where Capital would remain in the lead, and become victorious, 15-13.

Salazar and Micho each would tack on their fourth goal of the match, with sophomore Molly Frederickson (Alto, Michigan / Lowell) picking up an assist on the fourth Salazar goal. Sophomore Maddie Yakes (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) was in net for the Flying Dutch, making 13 saves on 28 shots faced. Yakes also picked up two ground balls and caused a single turnover for Hope. 

"Madison is one of our upperclassmen leaders who just comes to play every single game and is our strong, grit player who does all the dirty work," said Pontious of Micho. "She definitely helps our offense that's for sure."

"Elena is super good through fast breaks and transition and just can't be stopped when she goes right to the cage."

Hope College is back on the field on Friday, March 18, as the Flying Dutch travel to Aurora University for a 5:00 pm start time for their fourth-straight road game this season.