OLIVET, Mich. – Entering the 2016 season, the Kalamazoo College women's soccer team hadn't won a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship since 1999. But that more-than-a-decade drought ended Monday afternoon.
Behind an outstanding two goal and one assist performance from senior Madeleine Chilcote, the Hornets defeated Olivet College, 3-1, and clinched the No. 1 seed for the MIAA postseason tournament.
"This team has faced numerous challenges this season and has proven that they are champions," Kalamazoo Head Coach Bryan Goyings said. "I cannot say enough about the determination and belief possessed by this incredible group of women."
Chilcote built the Hornets' confidence early when she found the back of the net in the 13th minute of play. Less than three minutes later, Chilcote doubled K's lead off an assist from Emma Tardiff.
Holding a 2-0 lead at the half, the Chilcote-Tardiff duo struck again in the 57th minute, this time the roles reversed. Tardiff found the back of the net for her 10th goal of the season while Chilcote recorded her fourth assist.
"Both Emma and Maddie were outstanding today," Goyings said. "Being able to get on the board early was one of our goals for the day. Our attackers did a great job generating chances early in the game and Maddie served a corner directly in and then put the second one in off a breakaway."
Olivet tacked on a goal late, but the Hornets managed to carry play throughout the day outshooting the Comets, 19-12. Grace Smith made six saves in goal for K.
"A major key to the game was controlling the midfield. Paige (Sambor) and Raechel (Schmidt) were outstanding for us in this area of the field," Goyings said.
Based on results from around the league this afternoon, Kalamazoo will host Alma College in the first round of the MIAA tournament on Thursday, Nov. 3.
The Hornets went 1-0-1 against the Scots in the MIAA round-robin.