Bella Nagelkirk put the Hope College women's soccer team in motion. Her teammates kept the ball rolling.
A 7-0 Flying Dutch victory against Knox College (Illinois) started with Nagelkirk 30 ½ minutes into the first half. Four different teammates followed with their first and, sometimes, second goals of the season on Thursday at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.
Hope improved to 2-0-1 on the season after tying a stadium record with six second-half goals. The 2011 Flying Dutch recorded six during a second-half win vs. Olivet College.
It was Hope's highest-scoring game since an 8-0 victory vs. Saint Mary's College on September 20, 2017 at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Heading into Thursday, senior forward Emma Dutmers (Traverse City, Michigan / Central) had accounted for all three Flying Dutch goals for the season.
Hope outshot Knox (0-4) by a 46-0 margin.
Head coach Leigh Sears was proud of how her team responded after their halftime instructions.
"We went into the locker room and said here's what we need to do. The good news for us is they came out and did it. It results in goals," Sears said. "If people are going to continue to play us this way, we have to figure it out."
The Flying Dutch's next game is Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m. against North Park University (Ill.) at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.