ALMA, Mich. – The Calvin women's lacrosse secured a thrilling 12-11 victory over a previously-undefeated Alma team in the MIAA opener for both teams Wednesday night at Bahlke Stadium.

Alma (7-1 overall, 0-1 MIAA) scored four late goals including the equalizer with 1:28 remaining to tie the game 11-11. Calvin (5-4 overall, 1-0 MIAA) won the subsequent draw control however and capitalized on a game-winning goal from senior Mekaelah McClymont (Camp Hill, Pa./Covenant Christian Academy) with 6.5 seconds left in regulation.

Calvin led 6-4 at halftime and 9-5 after three quarters. A goal from senior Lainey Aldridge (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North HS) gave Calvin an 11-7 advantage with 10:04 remaining.

The score remained that way until the host Scots scored a short-handed goal on a free position shot from Sarah Bollinger with 3:58 left on the clock. The Bollinger goal ignited a 4-0 run by Alma over the next 2:20 to tie the game and seemingly put the Knights back on their collective heels.

Senior Megan Gilbert (Lansing, Mich./Holt HS) came up clutch on the ensuing draw, powering the ball forward and grabbing it out of the air to give the Knights a crucial possession.

Sophomore Meghan Chang (Clarksburg, MD/Clarksburg HS) came up with Calvin's first shot on the possession, whipping a shot with 35 seconds left that was saved by Alma's goaltender Cassidy Smith. Chang scooped up her own rebound however, passed the ball out to the perimeter. McClymont then received a pass while cutting to the net that she turned into a rush through the crease. Her rush was rewarded with a game-winning goal as she slipped a back-handed shot past Smith for the winner.

Not lost in the season-opening win was another career milestone for Gilbert who scored six goals in the win to become Calvin's all-time leading goal scorer, boosting her career total to 223 goals, two ahead of previous record holder Emily Cefaratti. The record was the second of the spring for Gilbert who earlier became the all-time Calvin leader in draw controls. Gilbert finished Wednesday's win with six goals on eight shots to go with seven draw controls and a pair of ground balls.

Aldridge had two goals and an assist. McClymont, freshmen Anneliese Hanson (Naperville, Il./Naperville North HS) and Audrey Booher (Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian HS) and Chang all had one goal apiece. Booher had two assists while Hanson had one assist.

Senior Jessica Camp (O'Fallon, Illionis/O'Fallon Township HS) was superb in goal with 16 saves on 27 Alma shots. She collected eight saves in each half and turned away three Alma free position shots.

Alma outshot Calvin 34-22 and held a 25-16 edge in ground balls.

COACHES COMMENT: "Jess (Camp) had a great game in net for us tonight, pulling 16 saves (.593)," said Calvin head women's lacrosse coach Blake Boehm. "Hats of to (Megan) Gilbert for breaking the career goals record. Alma is a very solid team. They scouted us well and capitalized on some of our miscues. We're going to need to be more disciplined in future games. We snuck away with one tonight."

NEXT UP: Calvin will host Trine on Saturday at noon at Eagles Stadium on the campus of Grand Rapids Christian High School.