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Hope College

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Caleigh Randall runs up field with the lacrosse ball against Chicago.
Alex Akhundov - UChicago Athletics.
Pictured, Caleigh Randall
7
Hope HOPE 15-4, 6-1
23
Winner Chicago CHICAGO 12-5
Hope HOPE
15-4, 6-1
7
Final
23
Chicago CHICAGO
12-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Hope HOPE 2 1 2 2 7
Chicago CHICAGO 7 7 4 5 23

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | | Alan Babbitt

Womens Lacrosse Falls in NCAA Second Round, Reflects on Transformational Senior Class

Hope loses to No. 21 Chicago, Eight Seniors Close Unprecedented Run

Eight women, all from different high schools, joined together and formed a transformational group for the Hope College women's lacrosse team.

Seniors Stella Bottum, Julia Brown, Caroline Curnutt, Ruby Heuremann, Sydney LaPrairie, Carly Llewellyn, Caleigh Randall, and Samantha Smith will be remembered for what they forged on and off the field, head coach Keagan Pieri said following the Flying Dutch's 23-7 loss at No. 21-ranked University of Chicago on Saturday during the second round of the NCAA Division III Championships.

Hope finished the season with a 15-4 record and set a program record for victories in a single season. 

The Flying Dutch also recorded: 
  • their first victory in the NCAA Championships (20-5 against Aurora University on Friday);
  • four NCAA postseason appearances;
  • their first MIAA regular-season and tournament championships;
  • and set league records with four-year title reigns in the conference regular-season and tournament play.
"So much," Pieri said, reflecting on the contributions from and standard set by the senior class. "The main thing is the sacrifice it takes as an athlete goes unnoticed, then you're done. You'll miss it, but these ladies put in the hard work to deserve to be honored at the end. They also can be proud of where they came from. We're going to remember we set a high standard with this group."

All eight seniors will graduate on Sunday, May 10, at 3 p.m. at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium. 

Curnutt and Randall majored in elementary education. LaPrairie studied nursing. Smith and Bottom, who transferred in as a sophomore, majored in exercise science. Heuermann and Brown studied psychology. Llewellyn majored in business.

Chicago (11-5) advanced to next week's third round against an opponent and at a site to be determined. 

The Maroons scored the game's first two goals, then pulled ahead 7-2 by the end of the first quarter. Sophomore midfielder Ireland Brown of DeWitt, Michigan (DeWitt) cut Chicago's lead to 7-3 with a woman-up goal 1 minute, 5 seconds into the third quarter. The Maroons answered with the half's final seven goals. Chicago dominated time of possession by winning 14 of 18 draw controls.

Bottom led Hope with three goals. Julia Brown also scored three points on two goals and one assist, concluding her career as the Flying Dutch's all-time leader in goals with 264 and points with 355. Smith made 13 saves in goal.

"What I'll remember the most is this group works so hard and just doesn't quit," Bottom said.
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