by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College men's soccer team made the most of an unexpected interruption to its schedule.

Playing for the first time in six days, the nationally-ranked Flying Dutchmen controlled possession most of the game and earned a 3-1 win against Adrian College on Tuesday at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Hope, ranked 23rd in this week's D3soccer.com poll, upped its record to 7-2-1 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play.

Head coach Dave Brandt said the Flying Dutchmen used the cancellation of Saturday's game due to an opponent's transportation issues to recalibrate their play.

"I thought we were sharper than we've been in probably three weeks. In the end, the canceled game Saturday allowed us to settle down and get some training in," Brandt said. "That was the difference. We maintained that level of sharpness throughout the game."

In the first half, Hope held possession of the ball 70 percent of the time. The Flying Dutchmen broke through Adrian's defense with 9 minutes, 24 seconds remaining before halftime. 

Senior forward Griffin Bruso (Bloomington, Illinois / Normal Community HS), pictured above, tucked his team-leading fourth goal of the season into the right corner of the goal from six yards out. 

Sophomore midfielder Griffin Brown (Livonia, Michigan / Stevenson) registered his first career assist by setting up Bruso with a cross from about 20 yards.

The Flying Dutchmen kept the pressure on after halftime and finished with a 35-6 edge in shots.

Thirty-one seconds into the second half, sophomore midfielder Matt Wimmer (Farmington Hills, Michigan / Detroit Jesuit), pictured left, ripped a right-footed shot from about 25 yards out near the top of the penalty area for a 2-0 lead.

It was Wimmer's second goal of the season and the third of his career.

Watch an interview with Matt Wimmer

Hope made it a 3-0 lead with 18:52 remaining when freshman midfielder Thomas DeVries (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian)  headed in his second goal of the season from about five yards out. DeVries pounced on a failed clearing attempt.

Adrian (2-6-2, 0-1 MIAA) scored 13 ½ minutes later after Justin Sarka converted a penalty kick following a Hope foul.

The Flying Dutchmen's next game is Saturday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. against Albion College at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.