by Eva Dean Folkert

If the first game of the year is any indication of how the rest of their season will go, the Hope College men's lacrosse team is well equipped to handle the excitement and opportunity of last-minute heroics in 2020.

Going into the fourth quarter trailing Augustana College (Illinois), 7-6, the Flying Dutchmen out-scooped (16 to 3 groundballs), out-shot (15 to 7) and out-scored (4 to 1 goals) the Vikings over the game's final 10 minutes to win on the road, 10-8.

The game was the season opener for each squad.

Hope held the lead at halftime, 5-4, but three goals by Augustana in the third quarter, with the Flying Dutchmen scoring just once, put Hope in a hole going into the last period.

Tied at 8-8 with 8:46 to go, though, Hope's last two goals were scored by sophomore midfielder Liam Cunningham (pictured right) of South Lyon (Detroit Catholic Central HS) at the 4:14 mark and by senior midfielder Andrew Pavey (pictured left) of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Eastern HS) with eight seconds left. Both goals were unassisted.

Senior attacker Rocco Mularoni of Hartland (Detroit Catholic Central HS) led Hope with three goals. Senior attacker Max Kuiper of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Central HS) and sophomore Jack Radzville of Howell (Howell HS) accounted for the most assists with three each. Cunningham gathered with most groundballs with six.

Sophomore goalie Ian Bosman of Centennial, Colorado (Cherry Creek HS) made 11 saves.

Hope outshot Augustana, 44-38. 

The Flying Dutchmen host their home opener on Tuesday, March 3 versus Elmhurst College (Illinois) at 6 p.m. in Van Andel Soccer Stadium.