by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College men's lacrosse team worked together to handle an opponent's relentless badgering.

The Flying Dutchmen won, 11-7, at Oberlin College (Ohio) on Saturday in non-league play.

"We needed that. Oberlin is a good team. We knew we'd have a fight on our hands," head coach Michael Schanhals said after his team improved to 2-1 overall. "We were trying to handle their pressure by sharing the ball with one another. Whatever mistakes we made, we had to play fast. We wanted to go right at them. That was successful, especially in the first half."

Hope never trailed after taking a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter on one goal from junior Nathaniel Hentschel of Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake HS), pictured, and two from freshman Jack Radzville of Howell, Michigan (Howell).

The Flying Dutchmen built up their lead to 9-3 by halftime.

"We had some incredible opportunities offensively because of how we shared the ball a little more early in the shot clock," Schanhals said. "We're learning how to deal with the shot clock a little better and how to manage our time."

Radzville finished with a team-high three goals. Hope's leading scorer also had an assist.

The Flying Dutchmen received two goals apiece from Hentschel and junior Rocco Mularoni of Hartland, Michigan (Detroit Catholic Central).

Hope helped its cause by winning 16 of 22 faceoffs behind the play of freshman Cole Scheffler of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS) and junior Marshall VanBelkum of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford).

Goalie Nick Schanhals of North Muskegon, Michigan (North Muskegon) made 14 saves.

The seven goals allowed is a season-best for Hope.

Oberlin fell to 2-1 overall.

The Flying Dutchmen return to action on Thursday, March 14 with a 5 p.m. home match against Carroll University (Wisconsin). Hope plays three times at home over three days, including a Friday, March 15 match vs. Augustana College (Illinois) at 5 p.m. and a Saturday, March 16 match vs. Wabash College (Indiana) at 1 p.m.