Welcome to today's home opener for the Hope College men's soccer team. It is the first of 10 regular-season matches at Van Soccer Stadium for the Flying Dutchmen. Hope has enjoyed a home-field advantage at Van Andel Soccer Stadium with a 52-16-4 home record.
Click here to see a PDF version of tonight's game program.
Today's opponent is the Grace Bible Tigers from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grace Bible, which competes in the National Christian Colleges Athletic Association, enters with a 1-1 overall record. The Tigers dropped their opener to Lourdes 3-1 on August 27 but rebounded to defeat Great Lakes Christian College 21-0 on August 31.
Pictured from left, captains Thomas Conerty and David White by Alan Babbitt
Hope is 0-2 on the season after dropping two matches at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational last weekend. On Friday, the Flying Dutchmen pushed No. 17-ranked Ohio Wesleyan to double overtime before falling 2-1. Devon Butler scored for Hope on an assist from Josh Hagene. On Saturday, they lost to Capital, Ohio 2-0. Flying Dutchmen players Blair McCormick and Jared Wondergem both were named to the all-tournament team.
This is head coach Steven Smith's 27th season at the helm of the Flying Dutchmen. He has a career record of 359-132-41, including a 244-78-22 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.
Lee Schopp has been named associate head coach for the Flying Dutchmen. He had been assistant coach with Smith for 22 seasons. David Hertel and Brent Wyckoff also return as assistant coaches.
The Flying Dutchmen are back in action this weekend at Van Andel Soccer Stadium with the annual Cal Bergsma Memorial Invitational. Hope will host Aurora, Illinois on Friday at 7 p.m. at Benedictine, Illinois on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the event that honors the former West Michigan urologist with ties to Hope College and Calvin College and died in a 2001 car crash.
Fans, you can participate in our weekly Buffalo Wild Wings Brain Buster Trivia at every Saturday home event this school year. Look for the trivia question on Hope Athletics' Twitter account at kickoff and tweet your guess for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Buffalo Wild Wings. All guesses must tag Hope Athletics and include the hashtag BWW Brain Buster.
Order your Hope College football and athletics gear online through our Sideline Store. Customize items with whatever Flying Dutchmen or Flying Dutch team you want to support. Visit hope.edu/sideline story to find your Hope gear.
Download the new Hope Athletics Front Row app. Just search Hope Athletics on either the App Store or Google play. Fans can sign up for breaking news, scores and alerts of any Hope team they would like. Learn more at athletics.hope.edu/frontrow.
Need something to eat or drink at today's game? Check out Hope College Concessions on lobby for food, snacks, pop and water. Credit and debit cards are accepted.
Spotlight - Steve Binnig
Sophomore Steve Binnig is working toward a career in sales or public relations while playing soccer at Hope College. He is a communication major. Last year, he was one of Hope's MIAA-best 223 student-athletes to make the 2015-16 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with a 3.5 GPA or higher.
Why Hope I wanted to be at a school that offered a Christian environment without force-feeding it down students' throats. Hope College does an incredible job of finding the balance between those two extremes. I love Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Every time I walk out on the field I get chills.
Favorite Bible Verse 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. "...Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." In my eyes, this small excerpt from Paul hammers home what it means to be a follower of Christ. Without love, we are nothing.
