Story by Kurt Miller
With a 0-0 tie against Olivet in the final regular season match of 2015, the Kalamazoo College women's soccer team secured a third place finish in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and locked itself into a semifinal match up on the road at Hope College.
Picked by the MIAA coaches at the beginning of the season to finish atop the league, the Hornets scuffled in their early non-conference games squaring off against two ranked opponents and a well-tested side from DePauw. But the strong non-conference schedule prepared Kalamazoo for an MIAA schedule which saw six teams converging and competing for four conference tournament spots throughout the majority of the league season.
After losing its MIAA opening match on the road at Hope, Kalamazoo began to hit its stride as the Hornets won four of their next six games going 4-1-1. A gutsy night game 2-1 victory over Hope on Oct. 7 propelled K into a three-game winning streak during the heart of the MIAA season, and the Hornets position themselves well for their second straight appearance in the MIAA tournament down the stretch.
Giving up just 13 total goals in the 2014 season, the team's backline and team defending looked to be a strength heading into 2015 once again, and the group lived up to expectations. Junior goalkeeper Grace Smith stepped in as the starter in between the posts for K this season and has recorded eight clean sheets.
Kalamazoo surrendered just 14 goals during conference play, the third-fewest amongst MIAA teams, much in part due to the play of Hayley Buckhout, Katie Sorensen and Christina Dandar consistently holding down the backline.
Leading the way in the attacking third for the Hornets has been Madison Moote. Her eight goals this season lead the team and she also leads the team in total points.
Kalamazoo has received contributions from a bevy of players in the attacking third, though. Seven different players have scored two or more goals for the Hornets and the same number of players have scored game-winning goals during the season.
Having not lost in their final three games of the season, the Hornets hope to carry their momentum with them when they travel to Hope on Thursday, Nov. 5. In the teams' previous match-ups this season, the home team has come out victorious in each game.
Kalamazoo will look to break the trend at 6 p.m. in Holland, Mich. when the game is scheduled to kickoff. The winner will take on either Calvin College or Olivet College in the MIAA Championship on Saturday, Nov. 7.