Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin women's lacrosse team claimed sole possession of first place in the MIAA on Saturday afternoon with a decisive 16-4 victory over rival Hope College.
With the victory, the Knights improve to 8-5 overall and maintain an unblemished 6-0 MIAA record. The Flying Dutch fall to 6-5 on the year with a 4-1 MIAA mark.
"Anytime that you beat the team to the west, it's a good day," said Calvin head women's lacrosse coach Blake Boehm. "We came out strong and played tough all the way through. I'm really proud of the effort they put forth today."
The contest marked the Knights' final home game of the 2017 regular season and the final regular season game at Zuidema Field for Emily Cefaratti (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central). Prior to the game, Cefaratti, the lone Calvin senior, was honored. Cefaratti recorded her 200th career goal last Tuesday against Kalamazoo, and her 100th career goal in MIAA play in the win over the Flying Dutch.
"The 100 goals in MIAA competition is a huge accomplishment. In terms of the value that Emily adds to our team, the goals are just surface level," said Boehm. "She's all over the place. She's worked really hard for us to become a complete player."
Fueled by three early goals by sophomore Kelly Pepper (Wyckoff, N.J./Indian Hills) and another by Amanda Davio (Okemos, Mich./Okemos), the Knights jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead just over ten minutes into the game.
Hope's Erin Caton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Pontiac Notre Dame Prep) assisted Dana Kym (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) to get Hope on the board 11 minutes into the game.
After another Davio goal, Cefaratti netted her milestone goal and then assisted Grace Einfeld (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) for Calvin's seventh goal.
In the five minutes remaining before halftime, Davio, Emma Hall (Harare, Zimbabwe/Chisipite Senior School), Grace Einfeld (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Emma Verrett (Beaver, Pa./Beaver Country Christian) all tallied goals.
At the halftime break, the Knights led 11-1 and held a 17-1 shots advantage.
Hope's Madeline Shupe (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) scored unassisted 3:45 into the second half.
Cefaratti and Pepper responded with back-to-back free position goals. Einfeld, Verrett and Davio rounded off the Knights' scoring effort with a goal apiece.
Hope's Alexandra Webb (Woodland Hills, Calif./Calabasas) and Shupe scored the final two goals on the contest, but the Flying Dutch's comeback effort came up short as Calvin held a 16-4 advantage when time expired.
Calvin was led in scoring by Davio and Pepper with four goals apiece, while Einfeld finished with three. Cefaratti chipped in two goals and two assists and a team-high six ground balls.
The Knights outshot the Flying Dutch 27-11 on the afternoon and completed 7-9 on clear attempts while Hope was 5-16 on clear attempts. Madeline Baas finished with a game-high six draw controls.
"We've been looking for some good competition and they gave it to us," said Hope women's lacrosse head coach Kim Vincent. "We hope we get to see them again."
The Knights will close out their regular season next week with two road games. On Tuesday, the Knights will travel to Adrian to take on the Bulldogs. Game time is set for 4 p.m. Next week Saturday, the Knights will travel to Trine.
