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Ruby Heuermann defends a Wooster player during the NCAA Tournament.
Alan Babbitt
Pictured, Ruby Heuermann
9
Hope College HOPE 13-6
20
Winner College of Wooster WOOW 17-3
Hope College HOPE
13-6
9
Final
20
College of Wooster WOOW
17-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Hope College HOPE 1 4 1 3 9
College of Wooster WOOW 9 5 3 3 20

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | | Alan Babbitt

Women's Lacrosse Falls at Wooster in NCAA Tournament Opener

Mia Skibins, Juli Kirkpatrick and Kerrigan Brown didn't know what to expect when they committed to the Hope College women's lacrosse team four years ago, but are so thankful they did.

Even after a 21-9 loss at The College of Wooster (Ohio) in the NCAA Division III Tournament opener on Friday, the three seniors for the Flying Dutch expressed gratitude for everything they experienced.

The appreciation extended well beyond success on the field, which saw a historic and breakthrough time for the program.

"When I came my freshman year, I didn't know we would make it to the NCAA Tournament once, let alone three times," said Skibins, whose thoughts were echoed by her fellow seniors. "It was an honor to play for this team. I couldn't ask for better teammates."

Hope's most successful senior class contributed to 48 victories, a .667 winning percentage, the first NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, and three consecutive MIAA regular-season and tournament titles.

Thirteen victories this season matched the program-best from 2024. The Orange and Blue finished with a 13-6 record. 

The Flying Dutch were the first MIAA women's lacrosse program to three-peat as league champs.

Head coach Keagan Pieri said Skibins (Granger, Indiana / Penn HS), Kirkpatrick (Granger, Indiana / Penn) and Brown (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt) will be missed.

"They hold a high expectation for the rest of the group. That's the only way you can continue to grow," Pieri said. "They also execute very well. We have two of our best ballhandlers and someone who can match up with any person on the other team, and do it really well. I think it's amazing what they've given us."

Wooster (17-3) advanced to the second round and will host No. 21 University of Chicago on Saturday, May 10, at 3 p.m. Friday's tournament victory was the first for the Scots, one of 17 teams to receive an at-large berth in the 47-team field.

Friday also marked  Wooster's second victory over the Flying Dutch this season. The Scots won, 16-8, on March 1 at home.

Much like the first game, Wooster jumped out to a fast start.

Capitalizing on eight Hope turnovers, the Scots scored the final seven goals of the first quarter and raced to a 9-1 lead. Wooster outshot the Flying Dutch, 15-4, during the decisive stretch.

A balanced Scots attack featured eight different goal scorers, including three with four apiece: Lizzy Hardy, Brynne Snaguski and Bella Woodbury.

"Wooster is a good opponent, and they let us know in the first quarter," Pieri said. "We kept chipping away. We're not going to be a group that gives up. That's a testament to who we are and what we're going to continue to do."

Junior Julia Brown (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) topped Hope with six points on five goals with one assist.

Julia Brown finished with a program-record 74 goals, breaking her own mark of 65 from last season.

Kerrigan Brown, who collected three assists, smashed the program record for assists with 49, topping the old mark of 30.

Junior Sydney LaPrairie (Rochester, Michigan / Stoney Creek) chipped in two goals.

Kirkpatrick added two assists.

Hope recorded a program-best 295 goals as a team this season.
 
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