For a second consecutive year, the Hope College women's soccer team defeated Trine University in the semifinal matchup of the MIAA Tournament. 

On a brisk Wednesday night at Van Andel Soccer Stadium, the Flying Dutch quieted the Thunder for the second year in a row by just a single goal. 

The Flying Dutch advance with this year's 1-0 semifinal victory to play for an MIAA Tournament title and an NCAA Division III Championships berth on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Second-seeded Hope will play top-seeded Calvin University in the championship at Zuidema Field in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tickets can be purchased through the MIAA website 

Since 2021, Hope has faced off against Trine four times, once in the championship and three times in the semifinals. 

The energy brought by Hope was unmatched by the Thunder as just over three minutes into play, junior Liz Bellinger (Williamston, Michigan / Williamston HS) soared a ball across the box where junior Grace Fowler (Cumming, Georgia / Pinecrest Academy) was waiting at the back door. 

Fowler pounced on the opportunity, beating Trine's First Team All-MIAA -selection goalkeeper with a top-shelf shot, and the eventual game-winning-goal. 

The intense pressure and ball control by Hope remained steady throughout the first half of play, with the Orange and Blue defense not allowing any thunderous shots on goal until the second half. 

"I think just from our forward line all the way back to our goalkeeper, we played very well and a very organized defense," said head coach Holly Van Noord. "We were all on the same page and it was just tough to break us down."

The second half showed Hope's intensity would not waiver as just 30 seconds into play, Fowler was back on the prowl, centering a ball to an awaiting Ainsley Harris in the box. 

Harris, a junior from Zeeland, Michigan (Holland Christian), sent a shot on target, but up and above the net. 

Trine gained a pivotal opportunity when a Hope defender committed a foul in the box, leading to a Thunder penalty kick with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. 

Senior goalkeeper Kendall Robertson (Jackson, Michigan / Western) made the initial diving save, and junior Sophie Novak (Haslett, Michigan / Haslett) cleared the second-chance ball from the box, safely, to keep the Thunder with a goose egg on the board. 

Van Noord tipped her hat to Robertson's game-saving penalty kick moment. 

"I think that it speaks on Kendall's experience and just how good of a goalkeeper she is." 

Robertson completed her seventh shutout of the season with two saves.