by Alan Babbitt

Jack Radzville's skillful game sparked a breakthrough victory for the Hope College men's lacrosse team. The junior made a little history for himself in the process, too.

Led by their high-scoring attacker, the Flying Dutchmen defeated Benedictine University (Illinois), 22-17, on Friday in Bloomington, Illinois for their first NCAA Division III Tournament victory.

Hope (13-1 overall) advanced to play host Illinois Wesleyan University in the second round on Saturday, May 15 at 2 p.m. Central. Illinois Wesleyan (14-1) was a 30-8, first-round winner vs. the University of Northwestern (Minnesota) in Friday's first game.

This is Hope's second postseason appearance and first since an overtime first-round loss in 2019. Head coach Michael Schanhals, a former club player, oversaw the Flying Dutchmen's transition from club to varsity 10 years ago and directed their rise into a national-caliber program.

"They have worked tremendously hard to get us to this point," said Schanhals, who was joined by co-captains Luke Elder, Jack Radzville and Tucker Martinez in the postgame press conference. "I could not be more proud of them. There are guys who played in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and on who are fired up about this victory. This is for you all."

Watch Post-Game Press Conference

Against Benedictine, Radzville, pictured right, finished with a game-high 11 points on six goals and five assists. The attacker from Howell, Michigan / Howell HS upped his season total to 101 points and became the first member of the Flying Dutchmen to reach the century mark within a single season.

Radzville had a hand in six of Hope's first seven goals of the game, which was the team's second postseason appearance. First, he scored three times in the first six minutes to give the Flying Dutchmen a 3-2 lead.

After Benedictine (13-3) struck twice over the 1:44 to take back the lead, Radzville set up teammates Luke Elder, Michael Mann, and Colton Warren for goals. The Flying Dutchmen charged ahead for good by the end of the first quarter at 7-3.

"It helped us get our momentum going," Radzville said of scoring early. "It gets us pumped up. Our defense always plays good after that."

Hope kept on the attack and seven more times in a row before Benedictine ended the 11-goal run with 2:47 remaining in the half.

Radzville scored three times during the decisive second quarter.

"When they get they get the offense flowing, it makes it so much easier for our defense," junior defender and co-captain Tucker Martinez said. "We're playing very little defense, so on our communication and our slide, we're locking in."

The Flying Dutchmen reached the 20-goal mark for the seventh time this season. Hope is averaging 18.71 goals per game this season.

Elder (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids), pictured left, led the Flying Dutchmen with six goals. The senior attacker now has 60 goals this season, the second-most all-time in team history to the 64 goals from Gunnar Elder (no relation) totaled in 2016.

Midfielder Zach Wiggins (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Mattawan) matched his season-high with three goals.