Women’s lacrosse team outscores Hope in second half, but loses 12-8

HOLLAND, Mich. – Olivet College outscored Hope College in the second half but it was not enough to overcome a 7-1 halftime deficit, as the Comets fell to the Flying Dutch, 12-8, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) women's lacrosse game tonight at the Van Andel Stadium in Holland.

Hope scored the first three goals before junior Taylor Guarnaccia (East Lansing/Haslett) netted Olivet's only goal of the first half. The Flying Dutch scored four goals in the final seven minutes of the opening half to take their 7-1 halftime lead.

The Comets trimmed their deficit down to three, 7-4 with three consecutive goals, two by Guarnaccia and one by junior Geri Merrell (Battle Creek/Lakeview), in the first eight minutes and 14 seconds of the second half. The teams then traded two-goal scoring runs for the rest of the game.

Hope scored two straight, followed by Merrell netting two to make the score 10-6. The Flying Dutch responded with a pair of goals in a 42-second span to go back up by six, 12-6. Olivet got two final goals for the final four-goal margin.

For the game, the Comets had a +1 shot advantage over Hope, 33-32. Guarnaccia topped the team with 12 shots, while Merrell and junior Mackenzie Inman (Union City) each took nine shots. Guarnaccia scored four goals, followed by Merrell with three and Inman with one. Freshman keeper Xavier Vance (West Bloomfield) made 15 saves.

Olivet finishes its busy week Saturday when it travels to play Albion College at 1 p.m.

NOTES: With her one goal, Inman moves into a tie third all-time at Olivet for a single-season in points scored (27) and third in goals scored (26). Ironically, Guarnaccia's four goals allowed her to tie Inman for third in points. The records are 38 goals and 45 points by Merrell during the 2012 season.