LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University Crusaders (3-8, 2-4) returned home to celebrate their seniors and alumni as they geared up to face the Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals (1-10, 0-6). Despite having the significantly better record, the Crusaders found themselves outplayed early in the game. As they fought to catch back up, the Crusaders were led by senior Courtney Hoeland, who accounted for six total goals in the Crusaders' comeback rally. However, the clock ran out on the Crusaders before they could battle all the way back, losing to the Cardinals 16-14 in heartbreaking fashion.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Prior to the start of the match, the Crusaders took a moment to honor the team's three graduating seniors: Arianna Rivera, Courtney Hoeland, and Aria Gettel. 

Rivera is a senior attack from Marietta, Georgia, who was a three-year starter and one of the Crusaders' top scorers in 2022 before suffering an injury that would cause her to miss the entirety of her senior season. Despite this, Rivera was still named a captain for the 2023 season and has been an integral part of the Crusaders' culture. She will retire with 26 career goals and 5 assists, with a SOG percentage of 78.6%. 

Hoeland has been a four-year starter for the Crusaders on attack, and was their third-leading scorer in 2022 with 26 goals. In 2023, she is making just as much of an impact and is the team's third-leading scorer with nine goals and seven assists so far on the season. 

Gettel has been a four-year starter at midfield for the Crusaders, starting in all but one games for the Crusaders since 2020. In addition to being named a captain this season, she leads the Crusaders in both goals and assists with 32 and 12 heading into this game. Gettel will also retire as the Crusaders' all-time leading scorer with 105 career goals heading into their matchup with the Cardinals, surpassing the previous record of 104 set by Brittney Leist.

The Cardinals struck first in the opening minutes, but Hoeland fired right back with a goal to tie up the game, her tenth of the season. With that goal, Hoeland became the third Crusader to reach double-digit goals this season. The Cardinals took back the lead shortly after, jumping ahead 3-1. With under a minute remaining in the first period, the Crusaders finally found some rhythm. In her first game back since returning from injury, sophomore Sydney Pattinson took advantage of a woman-up situation by knocking down a quick goal. With only nineteen seconds remaining, Hoeland was given a free position shot, which she knocked down for her second goal of the day to tie up the game at 3-3 after one.

The Cardinals and Crusaders spent the second period trading goals. Concordia struck first, but Hoeland fired back with another eight-meter strike to tie the game up at 4-4. Their lead was short lived, as less than thirty seconds later the Cardinals took back their lead. Hoeland continued to have herself a day, scoring her fourth goal of the afternoon off of an assist from sophomore Katie Potter to tie the game back up at 5-5. The Crusaders would finally get their first lead as junior captain Mia Dyson knocked down her first goal of the day and 30th goal of the season. Dyson followed it up with another goal to make it a 7-6 game with three minutes remaining in the first half. However, Concordia went on a 2-0 run to end the half, taking a 8-7 lead after the second period.

Madonna found themselves down 12-7 after the Cardinals continued their run in the first half of the third period, leading the Crusaders to call a timeout. After taking time to regroup, the Crusaders began to play with more confidence. Pattinson scored her second goal of the day off of a free-position attempt, giving the Crusaders some momentum. Riding the energy from Pattinson's goal, goalie Hannah Dickson came up with a big-time save and clear that led to Hoeland's fifth goal of the day, a career-high for the senior. After coming up with a win in the draw circle immediately after Hoeland's goal, Gettel slung the ball to Potter that snuck right past the Cardinals' goalie. Just like that, it was back to a two-score game, Madonna only down 12-10 with plenty of time remaining.

Just as things seemed to be going the Crusaders' way, the Cardinals went on a 3-0 run to end the period, taking back control of the game heading into the final fifteen minutes of play. However, the Crusaders weren't ready to give up yet.

They came out absolutely explosive in the fourth period. Junior Jasmine Stringham won the opening draw control and took the ball to the net herself for her sixth goal of the season. Stringham would go on to win every single draw control of the fourth period, showing why she is their go-to option in the circle. 

Immediately following Stringham up was Aria Gettel, who scored off of a crisp pass from Potter. Hoeland would then account for her sixth goal of the afternoon, as she gave an assist to Dyson, cutting the lead back to two. Less than two minutes into the period, the score was now 15-13. However, the Crusaders were unable to keep up this pace, and the Cardinals began to wind the clock down. Stringham would get her second goal of the day before it was all said and done, but time would run out on the Crusaders. The Cardinals went on to win 16-14.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Hoeland scored a career-high five goals with a 100% SOG percentage and had one assist.
• Dyson scored three goals
• Pattinson scored two goals and caused one turnover.
• Potter had one goal and two assists.
• Gettel had one goal and grabbed 15 ground balls.
• Stringham scored two goals and won 15 draw controls.
• Hannah Dickson had 10 saves at goalkeeper.

UP NEXT

The Crusaders will play their final home game of the season on  Wednesday, April 12th at 2:00 pm, where they will face the Rochester University Warriors (0-6, 0-3) as they hope to clinch a spot in the postseason Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament.

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