OLIVET, Mich. – Cait Gaitley scored four goals, Kadie Koolwick and Mackenzie Novak tacked on two goals apiece and Julie Wood contributed a goal and two assists as Albion College built a 13-4 lead and it hung on for a 17-12 victory over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Olivet College.

Head Coach Shanta Loecker said Albion got sloppy once it had the nine-goal lead nine minutes into the second half.

"We made more mistakes than is characteristic of us," Loecker said after her team improved to 7-1 overall. "We managed to fight through it and we got back on track late in the game.

"The two first-year midfielders (Shannon Kahl and Lauren Wiegand) didn't have as many points necessarily, but they stepped up and worked really, really hard," Loecker added.

Kahl scored a goal, won five draw controls and pounced on four ground balls and Wiegand scored two goals and scooped up two ground balls.

Wiegand's second goal of the contest gave Albion a 13-4 lead with 21 minutes left. Mackenzie Inman directed the Olivet rally, scoring three goals and dishing out two assists, as Albion's lead melted to 16-12 with four minutes to play.

Albion goalkeeper Victoria Della Pia stopped 11 shots.

Albion will play its next two contests against MIAA rivals at home, starting with a Tuesday night contest against Alma College. The draw is set for 7 p.m. on the Schmidt-Fraser Field inside Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium.