Determined to raise its level of play, the Hope College men's lacrosse team identified this summer new standards for everyone on the roster. The Flying Dutchmen are eager this spring to see what results bloom out of their hard work and focus.
"We want to return to the MIAA Tournament, no question about that," head coach Michael Schanhals said. "We know we're close, but not quite there yet. Now we have to take care of our standards."
Hope is hungry to improve on last season's 6-10 overall record and fifth-place, 2-4 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association record. The Flying Dutchmen missed postseason play after finishing one game behind fourth-place Olivet.
To prepare for the 2016 season, Schanhals said the team came up with 14 slides to show the level of technique and execution expected.
"We're coaching every kid on the team to those standards," Schanhals said. "We're coaching them hard to meet those standards as a sign of respect to them and their abilities. We feel like we have the talent and depth to execute those things. We have to prepare."
Hope opens the 2016 season on February 13 with a nonleague match at Millsaps, Mississippi.
The Flying Dutchmen then will play nonleague matches at Elmhurst, Illinois and Illinois Wesleyan on March 4 and 5, respectively, before the home opener against Hiram, Ohio on March 10 at Van Andel Stadium.
MIAA play for Hope starts on April 9 at Adrian.
The Flying Dutchmen field a roster of 31 players, including five seniors, four juniors, seven sophomores and 15 freshmen.
Hope has three co-captains: senior defender Taylor Dever of North Barrington, Illinois (Lake Zurich HS), senior midfielder Will Dommermuth of Littleton, Colorado (Littleton HS) and junior attack Gunnar Elder of East Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS).
Elder set school records last season with 49 goals and 70 points. His 21 assists are tied for fourth all-time in a single season by a Flying Dutchmen player. He earned All-MIAA First Team honors for the first time in his career.
Elder is first in the three-year varsity history of Flying Dutchmen lacrosse with 85 goals and 120 points. His 35 career assists are third most all-time.
Dommermuth was named All-MIAA Second Team at midfield short stick. He totaled three goals and one assist in 15 games.
Two-thirds of Hope's roster is comprised of newcomers. Schanhals is counting an infusion of new players and overcoming injuries that plagued the Flying Dutchmen last season will help this spring.
"We do have some veteran players who are still with us," Schanhals said. "They're all excited about what we have going."
Three other seniors will contribute: defender Korey Cook of Marquette, Michigan (Marquette HS), attack Sam Hansel of Wheaton, Illinois (Glenbard West HS) and midfielder Parker Osterink of Longwood, Florida (Seminole HS).
Osterink finished fourth on the team last season with 18 goals. He tied for second with 12 assists.
Three juniors will be in the mix as well: midfielder Erik Basch of Ada, Michigan (Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central HS), midfielder Clayton Sanders of Holt, Michigan (Holt HS) and attack Zach Weber of Ann Arbor, Michigan (Huron HS).
Weber tied for second on the team with 23 points. He also recorded eight assists.
Hope's seven sophomores include goalie Joey Williams of Farmington Hills, Michigan (Detroit Catholic Central HS). Williams has two of the highest-save games for the Flying Dutchmen with 15 last season against Alma and 12 against Ferrum, Virginia.
Three of the sophomores are defenders: Michael Banzet of Oregonia, Ohio (Springboro HS), Chris Bosscher of Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Central HS) and George Plaster of Alexandria, Virginia (T.C. Williams HS). Plaster also can line up at long stick midfielder.
The other three sophomores are midfielders: Grant Brogan of East Lansing, Michigan (East Lansing HS), John Hunger of Bay Village, Ohio (Bay HS) and Mike Odea of Naples, Florida (Barron Collier HS).
Brogan collected 23 goals and 10 assists last season to place third on the team in scoring with 33 points.
Odea, who also can be used at attack, netted 17 goals and 12 assists last season.
Eight of Hope's freshmen are midfielders: Micah Bieri of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS), Josh Blackburn of Muskegon, Michigan (Reeths-Puffer HS), Luke Doncel of St. Charles, Illinois (Wheaton Academy), Chase Edgar of Indiana, Pennsylvania (Kiski Prep), Matt Olson of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven HS), Thomas Sprys-Tellner of Brighton, Michigan (Detroit Catholic HS), Liam Turley of Middleton, Wisconsin (Middleton HS) and Luke VanBlois of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS).
Four freshmen play attack: Gino Battaglia of Lebanon, Ohio (Lebanon HS), Matthew Harkema of St. Louis Park, Minnesota (Park HS), Colin McMurray of Shoreview, Minnesota (Mounds View HS) and Trey VanWieren of Okemos, Michigan (Okemos HS).
Freshman Peter Beck of Shelby Township, Michigan (Warren De La Salle Collegiate HS) is a defender. Freshman Micky Williams of Farmington Hills, Michigan (Detroit Catholic Central HS) is a goalie.
Freshman Wade Hoag of Hartville, Ohio (Kiski Prep) is injured and will not play.
