Kalamazoo 1 Alma 2 2OT

Hornet Goalscorer, Freshmen Stephanie Verbeek

In the regular season finale the Kalamazoo would face the Alma College Scots at Mackenzie Field in Kalamazoo.  With a win Kalamazoo would clinch it's best MIAA finish in eight years (2nd place or better) and with a win Alma would tie Kalamazoo for third and be awarded the third seed in the conference tournament as they would hold the head to head tiebreaker.  Early on the Scots would control the play and had several quality opportunities off corner kicks including a ball off the post.  Kalamazoo would slowly work itself into the game and freshmen Jackie Short was able to find space between the Alma defense twice have breakaways stopped by Katie Weicksel, the Alma keeper.  With just 1:20 left in the first half Hornet freshmen Stephanie Verbeek was able to run onto a pass from defender Megan Burns.  Verbeek would out race the last defender touch it to the side of the keeper and calmly place the ball into the back of the net.  On the strength of Verbeek's tally (her first college goal) Kalamazoo would enter halftime leading 1-0.  The Hornets would have several strong spells of possession in the 2nd half.  Jackie Short would again find space behind the Alma defense early in the half only to be denied once again by the Scot keeper.  Alma would begin a strong final push in the final twenty minutes of the second half and was able to find the equalizer in the the 78th minute.  Alma attacker Alli Meurer was able to strip Kalamazoo defender Anja Burk of the ball and in a foot race to goal took a shot which Kalamazoo keeper Courtney McCoy was able to get a piece of but not enough.  The game would remain tied through regulation and the first overtime with neither team creating a quality scoring opportunity.  In the 106th minute Alma would end the game.  Off of a throw in, Meurer was able to control the ball and crossed it into the path of an on running Elaine Cunningham who was able to head the ball home and award the 2-1 win to Alma.  With the win Alma and Kalamazoo tie for third place in the MIAA with the regular season complete.  Alma stands at 9-7-2 (5-2-1) and Kalamazoo sends the regular season at 7-6-3 (5-2-1).  Alma will be the three seed in the tournament and Kalamazoo is the fourth seed, both teams will host opening round games on Saturday, October 31st.