CALVIN-HOPE SMUGMUG PHOTO GALLERY

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin women's soccer team captured the 2023 MIAA Tournament title in dramatic fashion on Saturday, defeating rival Hope 5-3 in a penalty kick shootout after the contest had ended in a 1-1 double-overtime tie.

The MIAA Tournament title is the third in the last four years for the Calvin women's soccer program and its ninth tournament title overall. The shootout win was Calvin's first in MIAA Tournament play as the Knights had been 0-3 in shootouts in MIAA Tournament games prior to Saturday. The Knights are now 4-0-1 against Hope in MIAA Tournament championship games.

With the MIAA Tournament crown, Calvin (14-1-3) receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament next week with the field set to be announced Monday afternoon.

Senior Maggie Smith (Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) scored the game-tying goal with just 8:48 left in regulation and the Knights were able to shake off their penalty kick past to win the shootout after neither team was able to score in the 20 minutes of overtime.

The rivalry matchup featured outstanding goalkeeping from both sides, particularly in the second half.

In the first half, Calvin's top scoring chance came on a shot from inside the 18-yard box by Smith that sailed wide of the far post while Hope threatened on a long looping shot from near midfield by Bri Rose that appeared headed for the top corner but was snared by Calvin junior goalkeeper Kalex Dodge (Jackson, Mich./Leslie HS).

Both sides placed shots on frame early in the second half. A shot from distance by Hope's Carley Wagasky sent Dodge leaping into the air to parry the ball just wide of the post. Calvin threatened just two minutes later with the knuckling shot by senior Sophie Mueller (North Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon HS) that was stopped by Hope goalie Clara Feenstra.

Less than three minutes later, Calvin was called for a foul in the center of the pitch 30 yards out from goal. Wagasky stepped up and knuckled a sinking line drive that skipped down off the crossbar and bounced back into the top roof of the goal to give the Flying Dutch a stunning 1-0 lead.

Calvin chased the game over the next several minutes and came close in the 71^st minute on a shot by Smith that was deflected wide by Feenstra and then again in the 74^th minute on another Mueller blast that Feenstra deflected over the bar.

With just under nine minutes left in regulation, Calvin was awarded a corner kick. Senior Elizabeth Williams (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) sent the kick into the box with senior Anna Reimink (Winona Lake, Ind./Lakeland Christian Academy) getting a first touch and Smith following with a toe-poke shot into the roof of the net past an on-rushing Feenstra to tie the game at 1-1.

In overtime, Calvin nearly came up with the go-ahead goal with 44 seconds left in overtime as freshman Mikaela Waroway (Ann Arbor, Mich./Father Gabriel Richard) got loose in the 18-yard box off a chipped pass. Waroway's shot was deflected over the bar by Feenstra, keeping the game level.

In the shootout, Dodge came up big, saving Hope's third attempt. Williams, Mueller, sophomore Mia Judd (Grand Ledge, Mich./Lansing Christian HS) and senior Rory Pruis (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) were Calvin's opening four shooters and converted all four attempts. Hope converted its four attempt to trail 4-3 heading into the fifth and final round. Sophomore Lucy Iverson (Naperville, Il./Naperville North HS) then stepped up and delivered the clinching kick for the Knights in the fifth round opener to clinch the shootout win before Hope could get another spot kick chance.

Calvin finished the game with a 19-16 shots at goal advantage. Dodge had nine saves for Calvin while Feenstra had nine of her own for Hope.

COACHES COMMENT: "Winning (in this league) is really hard," said Calvin head women's soccer coach Emily Ottenhoff. "Happy we came out with the result. I thought we gutted one out today, getting a goal back and winning the PK's. It was not a smooth game for us today. Hope put us in a lot of bad spots. We weren't sharp. We did switch a formation and I was proud of our group for making that work late in the game. I thought both goalkeepers made some fantastic saves today. I think KJ (Kalex Dodge) had a little chip on her shoulder going into the tournament and came up with a huge performance again today. We like her back there and are glad she is our goalie."

NEXT UP: Calvin will now await its placement in the NCAA III Tournament with the tournament field set to be announced on Monday at 1:30 p.m. (EST) on NCAA.com