The Hope College women's lacrosse team put up a valiant fight against the elements and a strong College of Wooster (Ohio) team Saturday afternoon, but the Fighting Scots came up with a big third quarter to defeat the Flying Dutch, 17-14, at Van Andel Soccer Stadium in a game that featured temperatures in the high 30s and wind gusts in excess of 40 miles per hour.

The loss dropped Hope to 3-5 on the season as the Flying Dutch prepare to open Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association action against the Belles of Saint Mary's College Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Notre Dame, Indiana. Wooster improved to 8-1 with the win.

The Flying Dutch jumped on Wooster early, as freshman midfielder Caleigh Randall of Lansing, Michigan (DeWitt HS) struck for two goals, including one off a free position shot, in the game's first minute and 41 seconds.

Hope led by two goals on three separate occasions in the first half, also leading 4-2 and 6-4. But the Fighting Scots came back to take a 10-9 lead at halftime.

Junior attacker Elena Salazar of Howell, Michigan (Hartland) tied the score at 10-all just 12 seconds into the third quarter, set up by junior midfielder Molly Frederickson of Alto, Michigan (Lowell). It was the sixth tie in the game.

But then the Scots asserted their will, striking for three goals in a span of 1 minute, 43 seconds to take a 13-10 lead, and would never trail again. Wooster extended its lead to 15-11 late in the third quarter.

Hope pulled to within two goals at 15-13 on Salazar's fifth goal of the game with 10:45 remaining, again assisted by Frederickson. But the Fighting Scots scored the next two goals to ice the victory.

The game was a physical one, with 73 combined fouls called and nine yellow cards issued between the two teams. Wooster outshot Hope for the game 39-32 and forced 21 turnovers by the Flying Dutch.

Besides Salazar's five goals, the Flying Dutch got two goals apiece from Randall, Frederickson, sophomore attacker Kerrigan Brown of DeWitt, Michigan (DeWitt) and sophomore midfielder Juli Kirkpatrick of Granger, Indiana (Mishawaka Penn). Frederickson added three assists and Randall two.

Junior goalkeeper Maddie Yakes of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford) made 10 saves in the first three quarters of the game, and freshman goalkeeper Samantha Smith of Westfield, Indiana (Westfield) made four stops in the fourth quarter.