GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - After playing Hope to a pair of scoreless draws during the MIAA regular season, the Calvin women's soccer team broke through for a 3-0 victory over the Flying Dutch Saturday afternoon in the MIAA Tournament Championship game at Zuidema Field.

With the win, Calvin advances to the NCAA III Tournament for the 11th time in school history and for the ninth time under current head coach Mark Recker who recorded his 225th career victory at Calvin on Saturday. The victory also marked Calvin's sixth MIAA Tournament title in program history.

The Knights will find out their NCAA III Tournament assignment on Monday afternoon when the NCAA III Tournament pairings are announced.

With Saturday's victory over Hope, Calvin (18-2-2) now has a 20-game unbeaten streak dating back to Labor Day weekend.

Saturday's MIAA Tournament final marked the fifth game in 11 days for the Knights who came up with an inspired performance to defend their home field and improve to 4-0 against Hope in MIAA Tournament Championship games.

The two teams had played a combined 233 minutes of scoreless soccer this year until junior Allie Corp was able to slip a one-timer just inside the far post after receiving a crossing pass in the box from senior Paige Capel. The goal came in the 14th minute of play and was the first of the year for Corp.

Capel struck for her 15th goal of the season just two-and-a-half minutes later, hooking up with senior Taylor Ten Harmsel on lead pass in the box with Capel sliding a shot far post to put the Knights up 2-0.

Calvin 2-0 advantage held into halftime, forcing Hope (16-3-3) to press forward on offense in the second half.

Calvin's defense stiffened against the offensive surge by the Flying Dutch as Calvin's backline cleared ball after ball while senior goalkeeper Holly Ellerbroek came up with four second half saves.

Capel then provided the clinching goal with just 3:49 left in regulation as she got loose deep in the Hope end and rifled a shot just inside the upper far right post for her fourth goal of the MIAA Tournament and the 49th goal of her Calvin career.

"I told our team in our pre-game meeting that the team with the will and the passion for the outcome would succeed today," said recker. "This is a team that from day one has been focused on playing together and today they pulled together once again. As this season has gone along, we have realized that this team has something special inside. This group realizes that as a unit, this team can really succeed."

Saturday's game marked the second meeting of the week between Hope as the two teams had battled to a 0-0 double-overtime tie in Holland on Monday night in the regular season finale for both teams.

"I really have to recognize my (seven) seniors," said Recker. "They were determined today not to go out on a losing note on their home field and waiting to see if a (NCAA) Tournament berth is going to happen."

Calvin finished the game with a 13-6 shots at goal advantage. Ellerbroek had six saves in posting her 10th shutout of the season.

Calvin is now 20-3-2 all-time in MIAA Tournament play and is now 6-2-1 in MIAA Tournament championship games.