By Corey Wheeler, '18

ALBION, Mich. – Albion College routed Trine University, 19-2, in its last regular season home game at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium.

Albion got off to a slow start in a game many expected the Britons to dominate. Trine forged a 2-2 tie on Taylor Gast's goal with 17:58 remaining in the first half.

"We weren't trying to necessarily start slow but we wanted to execute our game plan that said lets control the pace for 60 minutes," Albion Head Coach Shanta Loecker said. "I'm OK with a slow and steady pace so way the way we started was not bad."

The Britons slow and steady game plan proved to be effective as the offense, led by Mackenzie Novak, exploded. Novak scored the next three goals to power the Britons to a 5-2 lead. She finished the night with eight points scoring six goals and dishing out two assists. Lauren Wiegand stepped up for Albion with a career high scoring five goals on the night.

The Britons dominated in large part due to their defense causing 24 turnovers. Kadie Koolwick led the defense forcing six turnovers alone.

"I think the midfield played great defensively which enabled us to have a good amount of possession," explained Coach Loecker. "Our midfield hustled a lot, as well as our attackers. They played great defense in that first 70 yards so that our defenders didn't end up having to play a ton of defense on the other end."

Kit Maher, who came into the game only having four goals on the season, scored twice in nine seconds and put a smile on the Britons fans faces in the last home game of the season.

"It's no secret that Kit is a fantastic athlete. She is very selfless she will do exactly what the team needs and we needed her to step up in the midfield and she did an awesome job," Loecker said about the sophomore.

Albion, 12-2 overall and 6-1 against MIAA rivals, needs to win its Saturday contest at Hope College to secure home field advantage for a semifinal round contest in the MIAA Tournament.