Logan Neil, Steve Smith and Glenn Swier are among the men's soccer greats that are part of the rich tradition the Hope men's soccer team carries. Here are five fun facts about the Flying Dutchmen.
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Number of wins the Flying Dutchmen need this season to reach the 500-win milestone. The Flying Dutchmen are 494-243-52 overall for a win percentage of .682 since their debut with one match in 1963. Hope has posted double-digit wins in 14 consecutive seasons.
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Number of outright Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships for the Flying Dutchmen — 2006, 2005, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992, 1983, 1980, 1977 and 1972. They also have claimed a share of league title four times — 1970, 2002, 2003 and 2010.
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Number of times a Hope player has been selected MIAA Most Valuable Player. Four of them received the distinction twice — Logan Neil (2010, 2011, Dan Tresslar (2006, 2007), Kevin Benham (1984, 1985) and Glenn Swier (1974, 1975). Other Hope MVPs are Geoff Meyer (2005), John Conlon (1995), Jeff Utzinger (1992) and Paul Fowler (1980).
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Number of times Hope will have co-hosted the Bergsma Memorial Tournament when it kicks off on August 30 and 31. The tourney, which Hope has won the past three times and six overall, honors the memory of Dr. Calvin Bergsma who died tragically in a car accident during the summer of 2001. A 1967 graduate of Calvin College, Dr. Bergsma was a West Michigan urologist who was known as a kind-hearted man who cared deeply for everyone. Dr. Bergsma was particularly close to his friends at both Calvin College and Hope College. He had family ties to both institutions as his wife Gwen (1968) and son Corwyn (1996) are Calvin graduates, while his son Clayton is a graduate (2000) of Hope College. Clayton was a four-year member of the Hope men's soccer team, while Corwyn was a four-year member of the Calvin men's basketball program.
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Number of NCAA Division III All-America honorees has produced — back David Whitaker (2011), midfielder Dan Tresslar (2006), midfielder Devin McNeil (2005), forward Geoff Meyer (2005), midfielder Ed Huebner (2003), goalkeeper Marcus Voss (2001, 2002), back Sean Toohey (1996), midfielder John Conlon (1995), goalkeeper Aaron Angeli (1995), back Blake Richards (1994), goalkeeper Lee Schopp (1992, 1993) and midfielder Jeff Utzinger (1992).
