by Alan Babbitt

The heady play of both Paulo Alcala and Kai Francisco delivered at an opportune moment for a shorthanded Hope College men's soccer team.

Alcala's goal on a header off a cross from Francisco in the 72nd minute launched the Flying Dutchmen to a 2-1 victory against unbeaten Carthage College (Wisconsin) on Friday at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Hope overcame playing a man down the final 27 ½ minutes to even its record at 1-1-1.

"It's huge, huge," Alcala, pictured right, said of the non-league win. "We've been working hard in practice. We've been needing goals to come. The backside's been doing what they needed to do. We needed to help them out."

Watch post-game interview with Paulo Alcala on Instagram

The Flying Dutchmen scored the final two goals of the game. 

After Carthage (2-1-1) converted a penalty kick 51 seconds into the second half, Hope drew even in the 64th minute when junior midfielder Nic Kubert (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Avondale HS) bounced on a rebound of his initial shot and headed it past the Firebirds goalkeeper. Senior forward Griffin Bruso (Bloomington, Illinois / Normal Community) recorded the assist.

In the 63rd minute, Hope went a man down after senior midfielder Ryan Flynn (Bloomington, Illinois / Bloomington) received a red card and exited the game.

On a counter nine minutes later, Francisco, pictured left, headed up toward the right corner of the penalty area. The junior midfielder from East Lansing, Michigan (East Lansing) pivoted to his right once inside the penalty area and sent a 20-yard left-footed cross to Alcala.

Alcala tucked a header inside the left goalpost for his first collegiate goal.

Carthage outshot Hope by an 11-8 margin and registered eight corner kicks to the Flying Dutchmen's two.

"I didn't think we played well. We scratched and clawed and came back, so that's a good thing," head coach Dave Brandt said. "We need to do better on offense."

Hope's next game is Saturday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. against Aurora University (Illinois) at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Aurora played Calvin University to a scoreless tie on Friday and is 20-1 on the season.