Grand Rapids, Mich. — Fresh off the energy of the home opener, Coach Marvin Hardy's squad hit the road for the first true test away from AQ Athletic Field, traveling to face the Britons of Albion College. The Saints were once again powered by WHAC Player of the Week Maizie Holmes and determined to prove that their grit travels. What followed was a back-and-forth battle that went the distance — and then some.
Albion 16, Aquinas 15 (OT)
The evening did not begin smoothly for Aquinas, as the Saints fell behind 5-0 in the opening quarter. But this group has shown resilience early in the season, and the response was immediate. Mya Chickering put AQ on the board late in the first, igniting a second-quarter surge that completely flipped the tone of the contest.
Holmes ignited the comeback with five goals on the night, attacking with confidence and pace. Sophia Davis added four goals, including a man-up conversion that highlighted AQ's poise in critical moments. Violet Mead delivered three goals, showing composure around the crease and a knack for finishing in traffic.
Ayiana Pansang-Rangel made her presence felt across the field, scoring once and adding an assist while contributing ground balls and draw work. Audrianna Lienhart added a goal during the second-quarter run and was active on draws, helping the Saints control possession. Addison Munn created pressure with multiple shot attempts, and Vanessa Bailey contributed an assist while battling defensively.
Defensively, Lucy Dusseau-Thompson, Lorelei Weinrick, Devyn Shenk, and Emma Dale worked to settle the back line after the early deficit. Dale in particular came up with key ground balls late in regulation, while Pansang-Rangel forced turnovers in transition.
In goal, Emersyn Gaitan started the contest before Samaya Dean came in and made five saves in the second half and overtime, giving the Saints chances to close it out. AQ led 15-11 midway through the fourth quarter after Holmes connected off a feed from Bailey, but momentum shifted late as Albion found answers down the stretch.
With the score tied at 15-15, overtime began with tension high on both sidelines. The Saints generated opportunities but were unable to convert, and at the 1:29 mark of the extra session, Lauren Thomas scored the game-winner for Albion.
It was a heartbreaking finish, but a performance that underscored the fight in this Aquinas squad. Down five early. Up four late. Trading punches for sixty-plus minutes. The grit absolutely traveled.
Inside the Numbers
• 5 goals from Maizie Holmes
• 4 goals from Sophia Davis
• 3 goals from Violet Mead
• 17 draw controls for the Saints
• 15 goals scored after falling behind 5-0
Coach's Comments
After the game, Head Coach Marvin Hardy reflected on his team's effort:
"I'm incredibly proud of the way our team came together tonight. To battle like that on the road and push it into overtime says a lot about our heart and resilience. When momentum shifted, we stayed connected and kept responding. It stings, no doubt — but if we're honest with ourselves and keep building from this, the results are coming. This is a group that's growing every single game."
Up Next
The Saints are off for the remainder of the week but will return to action on Monday, March 2, hosting Lawrence Tech at 6:00 pm. Aquinas will then welcome Columbia to the AQ Athletic Field on Wednesday for another 6:00 pm start. Both games will be streamed live on the AQ YouTube Network, with Joey Sutherlin on the call.
Don't miss out on any of the AQ Athletic happenings. Stay up to date on all the action by regularly visiting AQSaints.com for full coverage, stats, and postgame recaps.
