by Eva Dean Folkert

The Hope College men's soccer team saved all of their scoring potency for the second half of its game at Wesley College (Delaware) on Saturday.

After a scoreless first half and an early strike by Wesley (8-2) just after halftime, the Flying Dutchmen went on a scoring tear and defeated the Wolverines of the Atlantic East Conference, 3-1. 

Now at the conclusion of their non-league schedule, Hope heads into MIAA play undefeated at 9-0, its best start since the 1996 season when they started 15-0-1. First-year Hope coach Dave Brandt's Flying Dutchmen, ranked No. 21 by the United Soccer Coaches, open up league play against rival Calvin College, ranked No. 2, on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in Grand Rapids. The Knights own an 8-1 record.

On Saturday in Dover, Delaware, Wesley's D.D. Robinson scored on a header off a free kick from teammate Danny Garza just two and a half minutes into the start of the second half.

The Flying Dutchmen wasted little time to retaliate and got on the board a little over a minute later when Christian Dault, pictured, of Grand Haven (Grand Haven HS) scored one-on-one goal around a Wolverine defender at the 48:47 mark. It was the senior's third goal of the season.

At 61:31, senior James Reymann of Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne) sent an assist to junior Logan Bylsma of Hudsonville (Hudsonville HS) whose 40-yard strike found the back of the net to put Hope ahead, 2-1. With that goal, Bylsma leads Hope with six goals this season.

Reymann finished Hope's scoring with an unassisted goal at the 73:32 mark. This season, Reymann has scored and assisted five times each.

Hope outshot its opponent 23-12.

The Flying Dutchmen had one less corner kick than the Wolverines (5-4) and junior keeper Blair McCormick of Wadsworth, Illinois (Warren Township) made two saves.