Alma, Mich. - The Alma College women's lacrosse team began Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play this evening hosting Hope College in their season home opener. Alma ultimately fell to the Dutch 14-11 bringing their overall record to 3-4 and their MIAA record to 0-1. Hope improved to 2-3 on the season and began conference 1-0. 

The Dutch took the first lead of the game after Hope's Hannah VanAlst netted two goals in the first eight minutes. Alma answered when sophomore Shelby Frazer (Holt, Mich./Holt) scored her 10th of the season. Hope added two more goals to make the game 4-1 but Alma netted three unanswered goals tying the game 4-4 with 15 minutes left to play in the first half. Alma's freshman Carly D'Alessandro (Midland, Mich./Midland Dow) scored to take the 5-4 lead but Hope answered with three of their own to go in to the half with the 7-5 lead over the Scots.

Alma came out firing in the second half as senior Emily Reverman (Grand Ledge, Mich./Grand Ledge) netted a goal in the first minute of play. Hope's VanAlst added two more consecutive goals before senior Ashton Street (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) scored on a free position, bringing the score to 9-7. Alma put up four more goals in the second half but Hope scored five more to earn the 14-11 victory over the Scots. 

Frazer and D'Alessandro both netted three goals and Reverman and Street were right behind with two goals a piece. Street paced the way with six ground balls and Frazer picked up a total of three. Alma won 14 draw controls to Hopes 13 but the Dutch picked up 29 ground balls to Alma's 27.

Freshman Nikki Holbrook (West Jordan, Utah/Copper Hills) was in the net for the Scots, her record fell to to 2-3 this season but she did record a season high of nine saves in the game.

The Scots have officially begun MIAA play for the season and will travel to Albion College on Saturday (Apr. 9). The game is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start time. The Scots only have three other home events after today's game and will host two in a row after the Albion road game. They will welcome Olivet College on Tuesday (Apr. 12) and Calvin College on Saturday (Apr. 16), which is also senior day for the squad. The first game is set to start at 6:00 p.m. and the second at 7:00 p.m. 

QUOTE:

Head Coach Ashley Johnson

on the night...

"The team showed a lot of fight tonight and displayed their ability to push through challenges. This was a great test to start off the MIAA schedule and we will take what we have learned today into our Albion game on Saturday."