The Hope College women's soccer team extended their season with victories in the First- and Second Rounds of the 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships, while Adrian College was upended in upsetting fashion in the First Round, the team's first-ever national tournament appearance.
Hope's two wins have the Flying Dutch ready to face Christopher Newport Friday, Nov. 16 for a 7:30 p.m. contest in Newport News, Va. The winner will challenge either Messiah or Lynchburg in the Sectional Final Saturday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. The championship will culminate with the final four teams facing off Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
Hope (16-2-2) outlasted Otterbein 2-1 in the Second Round Nov. 10, as 2018 MIAA Most Valuable Player Rylie Dalton converted in the 11th and 26th minutes to push the Flying Dutch into the second weekend of play. Host Otterbein put a goal on the board in the 66th minute, but Hope withstood the Cardinals the rest of the way.
The day previous, the Flying Dutch opened with a 1-0 victory over Bridgewater; sophomore Corrine Cole scored her first goal of the season in the 41st minute on a rebound shot after Dalton's try was deflected by the Bridgewater goalkeeper. Hope out-shot Bridgewater 13-1 for the game.
Adrian (14-6-1) saw their season end with a gut-wrenching 1-0 double-overtime loss to Loras Nov. 9. Despite being out-shot 29-11 for the game, Bulldogs goalkeeper Ayverie Giller made a career-best 15 saves, the most by an Adrian goalkeeper since the 2000 season. Loras scored the game's decisive goal in the 103rd minute on a set piece 20 yards out.
2018 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship links
NCAA Division III Women's Soccer page
2018 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer bracket announcement
2018 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer interactive bracket
2018 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer bracket (pdf)
Adrian
NCAA Championship announcement
