Alexis Suptela’s goal was the difference as Hope College’s women’s soccer team edged Simpson College 1-0 in the NCAA Division III Tournament opener on Friday. Suptela found the net with an assist from Halle Barnard, securing a clean sheet thanks to goalkeeper Clara Feenstra’s three saves. The victory improved Hope’s record to 14-3-2 and set up a second-round clash against No. 3 Washington University at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The win came after Hope’s women’s squad recently broke a title drought by capturing the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championship, a momentum they carried into the national tournament. Feenstra’s performance in goal was critical in keeping Simpson off the scoreboard, allowing Hope to advance with a narrow victory.
Meanwhile, the Hope men’s soccer team’s NCAA run ended in the first round on the same day. They fell 2-1 to Transylvania University from Kentucky. Transylvania scored twice in the first half, taking control early. Hope’s Seth Walters pulled one back in the 76th minute, assisted by Jackson Mindling, but that was not enough to overcome the deficit. Goalkeeper Cooper Hutt made two saves, but the Flying Dutchmen could not find the equalizer. The men’s team finished the season with a 13-3-4 record after securing the MIAA Tournament championship.
On the volleyball court, Hope College kept its postseason hopes alive by defeating Albion in three sets, 33-31, 25-20, 25-10, to reach the MIAA final against Calvin. Hope’s Kiera Morrison led the attack with 11 kills while Kamryn Burbridge added nine. Brooke Hehl contributed 21 assists, orchestrating the offense, and Kathryn Oates recorded 16 digs, anchoring the defense.
Burbridge and Hehl earned first-team All-MIAA honors for their performances, while Angie Butler and Oates made the second team. Calvin’s Tryna VanderZwaag, a Holland Christian alumna, was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, setting the stage for a competitive final.
Hope’s volleyball team will meet Calvin in Saturday’s MIAA championship match, aiming to build on their strong showing against Albion and translate individual accolades into a team victory. The men’s and women’s soccer teams will look to carry the lessons from their tournament experiences into next season.
According to Yahoo Sports.
