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Elisa Melville battles a Trine defender for possession on the soccer field.
Alan Babbitt
Elisa Melville (4), pictured
1
Trine TRINE (8-7-5, 3-4-1)
2
Winner Hope HOPE (10-2-5, 6-1-1)
Trine TRINE
(8-7-5, 3-4-1)
1
Final
2
Hope HOPE
(10-2-5, 6-1-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Trine TRINE 1 0 1
Hope HOPE 1 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Alan Babbitt

Women's Soccer Downs Trine, Earns Rematch with Calvin in MIAA Title Game

Faced with a familiar 1-1 halftime deadlock against the same opponent, the Hope College women's soccer team kept pounding away at a determined Trine University.

Once the Flying Dutch put the Hammer down, they were on the way to play for an MIAA Tournament title and an NCAA Division III Championships berth.

Senior Natalie Hammer's second-half header propelled Hope to a 2-1 victory against sixth-seeded Trine University in Wednesday's semifinal at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 31, but had been postponed after an unseasonably heavy snowfall made conditions unplayable.

The second-seeded Flying Dutch (10-2-5) advanced to play at top-seeded Calvin University on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. Calvin (14-1-2) edged fourth-seeded Albion College, 1-0, in Wednesday's other semifinal. Tickets can be purchased through the MIAA website.

"It's huge," head coach Leigh Sears said of Hope's 10th MIAA Tournament title game appearance. "When we were at Calvin and didn't come how we wanted [losing 2-0 on October 7], we said the goal was to get back there and have another opportunity. We did what we wanted."

Similar to the regular-season matchup against Trine, the Flying Dutch dominated the attack but needed heroics after halftime to win.

On October 7, Hope topped the Thunder, 3-1, at Van Andel Soccer Stadium after junior Carley Wagasky (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) snapped a 1-1 tie with two second-half goals.

On Wednesday, Hammer (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) broke a 1-1 deadlock by heading in a cross from four-time All-MIAA defender Jenna Mustapha (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) in the 61st minute.

It was Hammer's third goal and Mustapha's career-high fourth assist of the season.

The Flying Dutch finished with a 25-5 edge in shots compared to a 23-7 advantage in the first matchup.

"I had faith in us that it was finally going to come," Sears said. "It took a backside header to get it done. I'll take them any way."

Hope overcame an early deficit after Abigail Marks took a turnover in Flying Dutch territory and set Bella Mabry for a 1-0 Trine lead 11:33 into the game. Mabry was the one who scored with three seconds remaining in regulation of a 1-0 win at third-seeded Kalamazoo College on Saturday.

Wagasky, an All-MIAA First Team selection, delivered the equalizer 10 minutes later with her team-leading eighth goal of the season.

Sears was proud of how the Flying Dutch responded after trailing early, especially defensively. 

Hope limited scoring opportunities for Trine (8-7-5) en route to avenging a 3-0 loss in last year's MIAA Tournament semifinals. 

Freshman goalie Clara Feenstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville), an All-MIAA Second Team honoree, needed to make only one save.

"Mistakes are going to happen. They didn't crumble. They kept playing," said Sears, whose team is 7-0-2 on home turf this season. "We fixed it at halftime and minimized their chances. They had some at the end there, and they're really dangerous on corners. I thought our defense played really well."
 
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