ALMA, Mich. – The heat was up on the pitch and overall, on Friday, October 3rd as Alma hosted the Flying Dutch of Hope College in their second game of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play. Alma jumped out to the first lead in the game though the Flying Dutch scored two goals in the second half to sneak away from Scotland yard with a 2-1 win.
Alma opened the game how they have for a majority of this season, turning up the pressure offensively early on with led to the Scots striking in the first five minutes. Racing down the field on the right wing, Ava Hoffman got down to the box and sent a service across where Emily Ahearn came flying in with a header to break the scoreless tie before the late arrival spectators could even sit down. Alma took the reins early and continued to apply pressure on the Hope defense, though the momentum would slowly begin to equal out as time kept ticking. Hope would force the Alma defense to "bend not break" by putting shots on net and services in the box as the half was close to expiring. Alma would head into the break, up 1-0 over the Flying Dutch.
Returning to the field from half, Alma was able to get a shot off early, but the Flying Dutch would find an equalizer shortly after. After a save by Min Coulombe to stop the first initial chance of the half for Hope, a minute later the Flying Dutch would tie the game on a ball that would be touched around by several Hope players on the box and ultimately found the back left of the net. With the momentum swing in favor of Hope, the Flying Dutch continued to apply pressure for the next several minutes following the goal, with several quality saves by Coulombe to keep the game knotted at ones. As time was nearing expiration, Hope sent a free kick ball into the box that was headed and directed towards the left post where the Flying Dutch would drop in their go-ahead goal with less than ten minutes remaining. Alma would find themselves with offensive chances in the final minutes though the equalizer would not come through.
Coulombe in her first career collegiate start made nine saves throughout the contest, keeping the Scots tight with Flying Dutch.
Alma will continue along with MIAA play on Wednesday, October 8th, as they will travel to Adrian College for a 7:00 under the lights kickoff.
