ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine University women's lacrosse team turned in a strong second-half performance that saw them cut the deficit to one, but they ultimately dropped the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest to visiting Hope College by the score of 16-11.

The Flying Dutch struck first in the contest with a goal in the fourth minute of play. The Thunder quickly responded when under a minute later senior Kristen Nguyen (Locust Grove, Ga. / Luella) cashed in on a great pass from junior Liv Ghent (Byron Center, Mich. / Caledonia) to tie the score at one.

The rest of the half didn't go as well for Trine as Hope would score seven more goals to the home team's two. The opposition entered the intermission with an 8-3 lead.

The beginning of the second half saw the Thunder score four straight goals to cut the lead to one at 8-7. Four different Trine athletes scored a goal during the stretch including Ghent, senior Shea Rayburn (Attica, Ind. / Attica) and freshmen Nikki Hibler (West Lafayette, Ind. / Harrison) and Alyssa Keptner (Midland, Mich. / H.H. Dow).

Hope would score the next two goals to build the lead back to three at 10-7, but once again Trine responded with a run of their own. Ghent scored another goal to cut the deficit to two and then junior Chloe Vruno (Geneva, Ill. / St. Francis) scored to cut the lead to one once again at 10-9.

It was the last time the Thunder would come that close as the Flying Dutch built their lead back to five at 14-9 and would ultimately take the contest with a score of 16-11.

Four different Trine athletes finished the game with two goals and an assist including Vruno, Ghent, Rayburn and Nguyen. Senior Kristin John (South Bend, Ind. / St. Joe's) led the team with three assists.

Senior Emily Morthorst (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) played the first half in net and finished with six saves. junior Jillian Rejczyk (Wauconda, Ill. / Wauconda) played the second half and finished with nine saves.

The team falls to 5-6 overall and 1-3 in MIAA play following the loss. They will take the field again on Wednesday, April 14 when they host Kalamazoo College for a 7 p.m. contest.