The Hope College women's lacrosse team used a third-quarter scoring explosion Saturday afternoon to defeat DePauw (Indiana) University, 20-14, at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.
The Flying Dutch evened their record at 3-3 on the season while dealing the Tigers, who came into the game leading all Division III teams in scoring at 21.4 goals per game, their first loss against five wins.
Hope held an 8-6 halftime lead on the strength of goals by five different players, including two goals apiece by sophomore midfielder Caleigh Randall (Lansing, Michigan/DeWitt HS), senior attacker Elena Salazar (Howell, Michigan/Hartland) and junior attacker Kerrigan Brown (DeWitt, Michigan/DeWitt).
But it was in the third quarter that the Flying Dutch pulled away, scoring nine goals on 13 shots, including four unanswered tallies in a span of less than three minutes midway through the quarter, capped by a goal from sophomore midfielder Sydney LaPrairie (Rochester, Michigan/Stoney Creek) that gave Hope a 15-9 lead. DePauw would not be able to pull to within five goals the rest of the contest.
"Our offense started working and being super-dynamic with our drives and feeds, and that's what we need to beat a top team like them. I think that was awesome. And then we just made a few adjustments on defense that helped us and propelled us forward in the second half," head coach Keagan Pontious said after the game.
Kerrigan Brown, who entered the game with just four goals in Hope's first five games, doubled her season goal output as she led the Flying Dutch with four goals on six shots. Randall and sophomore attacker Julia Brown (Grand Rapids, Michigan/Forest Hills Central) had three goals and two assists apiece. Senior midfielder Molly Frederickson (Alto, Michigan/Lowell) scored twice and added four assists for a six-point afternoon.
Salazar and sophomore midfielder Stella Bottum (Alto, Michigan/Caledonia) chipped in with two goals apiece as the Flying Dutch equaled their season high for goals, matching the 20 Hope scored in a 20-15 win over Oberlin (Ohio) College on March 9.
"Everybody's scoring, everybody's playing great defense, picking up ground balls, (winning) draw controls. I think that's what we need to win," Pontious said.
Senior goalkeeper Maddie Yakes (Rockford, Michigan/Rockford) made 10 saves in goal for the Flying Dutch.
Hope returns to action on Wednesday, March 27, as the Flying Dutch travel to Aurora (Illinois) University for a non-conference game. Game time is 4 p.m. Central time.
