ALBION, Mich. – First-year midfielders Chrystelle Lopez and Destiny Okon scored goals to keep Albion College in the lead in the second half and Carly Schwarz tacked on a pair of late goals as the Britons turned back Calvin College, 13-10, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse Tournament semifinal.
Albion, 13-4, will host Hope College at 5 p.m. Saturday in the championship game. Carly Pieri scored with 52 seconds left and Paige Wilmer caused a turnover as the Flying Dutch the tournament's No. 4 seed upset Saint Mary's College, 13-12, in the other semifinal.
Albion is 1-1 in its other MIAA Tournament championship game appearances. The Britons alternated a win and loss to Calvin in games decided by a goal in 2015 and 2016.
Darcy Muns, Destiny Okon and Abby Sheklow all scored two goals and Chrystelle Lopez chipped in with a goal and two assists as Albion led, 9-3, at halftime.
Calvin rallied to score five of the first six goals in the second half. Albion's lead was trimmed to 10-8 when Megan Gilbert buried a free position shot for Calvin with 15 minutes left.
Okon and Schwarz scored as Albion boosted the margin up to 12-8 with 6 ½ minutes left.
Lopez and Okon scored three goals apiece for Albion.
Twitter: @AlbionWLacorsse
Joe and Julie Serra have given a $5 million leadership gift to launch a fundraising initiative to make two dreams a reality at Albion College. The first is a newly expanded fitness and student activity facility at the site of the current Dow Recreation and Wellness Center. The second is a new or renovated competition facility for the volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball that currently call Kresge Gymnasium home.
The College is continuing to raise funds in support of both projects. To learn more, call 517/629-0446 or email advancement@albion.edu.