by Mackenzie McMahon

Much like the rest of the match ups between Saint Mary's and the Hope College women's lacrosse team, the majority of play was only a one goal game. 

From the first goal to the last five minutes of the third period, the two MIAA teams traded the lead on and off, with Hope leading four times in the 16-13 loss in the MIAA Tournament Semi-Final game on Wednesday. The Belles and the Flying Dutch were tied nine different times before Saint Mary's grabbed two unanswered goals in the fourth period, the only two during the final stanza. 

"We knew they were going to give us a game, and I think it wasn't a lack of effort, we maybe could have executed a little bit more, but I think the best thing about it was just we played our hearts out and that's what we need to remember," said head coach Keagan Pontious. "The outcome was the outcome but it wasn't for a lack of trying."

The orange and blue finished the season at 10-7 overall and 5-2 in MIAA conference play. 

Senior Sophie Ackermann had a team-high five goals in the tight battle. The East Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS) native tallied six shots and picked up four ground balls.

Freshman Mia Skibins (Granger, Indiana / Penn) had a team-high in ground balls scooped up, with six. 

Sophomore Elena Salazar (Howell, Michigan / Hartland), the All-MIAA First Team selection, notched off six shots while picking up four goals, and had six draw-control victories. 

Leading in the assists category in the final game of the 2022 season was freshman Ruthie Anderson (Lowell, Michigan / Lowell) and senior Madison McCreery (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) both with three assists. 

Maddie Yakes in net for the Flying Dutch faced 28 shots from the Belles. The sophomore from Rockford, Michigan (Rockford) collected two ground balls. 

"Our three seniors are definitely going to be missed, I think they all three ended on a fantastic game just doing exactly what they've consistently been doing all season, that's all we can ask from them. They lead us with their passion and I think that's the thing that will be missed the most."