by Alan Babbitt

On Senior Day, the passing of the stick was far more than ceremonial for the Hope College women's lacrosse team.

The Flying Dutch completed a 12-11, come-from-behind victory against Calvin University on Saturday at home when senior Madison McCreery set up freshman Payton Pilarski for the game-winning goal with 13 seconds remaining.

Photo of Hope's seniors with their families and coaches by Lynne Powe

"Our seniors know (the underclassmen) need to step up are willing to trust them," head coach Keagan Pontious, referring to a group of three: Sophie Ackermann, McCreery and Madison Micho. "A senior throwing to a freshman to win the game is trust. That's what we've been trying to build. It finally paid off in a situation like that."

The dramatic win kept Hope in the hunt for a spot in the MIAA Tournament with two regular-season matches remaining. The Flying Dutch (8-6, 3-2 MIAA) have a one-game lead over fifth-place Calvin.

Hope scored four of the game's final five goals to overcome a 10-8 deficit with 11:21 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Flying Dutch capitalized after a fourth Calvin penalty put the Knights down a player for nearly four minutes.

Pilarski (Livonia, Michigan / Winston Churchill) started the rally with 4:04 remaining by scoring for the second time this season.

Forty-nine seconds later, Micho (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) tied the score at 10-10 off an assist from Ackermann (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids).

Freshman Juli Kirkpatrick (Granger, Indiana / Penn) gave Hope a brief lead with 2:12 remaining by converting a free-position attempt.

Calvin (5-8, 2-3 MIAA) tied the score 65 seconds later on Lainey Aldridge's unassisted short-handed goal.

Micho won the draw control, giving the Flying Dutch possession. After taking a timeout with 55 seconds remaining, Hope set up the game-winning play and won the final draw control on Kirkpatrick's roundball.

"We've had some injuries (so) making them believe we still could do it was our goal today," Pontious said. "We just believed we could do it. i think we learned from the games previous wee lost how to play a close tight game, the risks to take. We capitalized when we should have, and we slowed it down when we should have. We finally learned how to win a big game."

Kirkpatrick and Micho shared team-high goal scoring honors with three apiece.

Pilarski finished with a career-high two.

Ackermann registered a game-high four assists.

Sophomore goalie Maddie Yakes (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) made 14 saves for the Flying Dutch to outduel Calvin's Jessica Camp, who had 13.

Hope's next game is Wednesday, April 27, a 5 p.m. at Adrian College.