by Lenny Padilla

Ryan Flynn took a corner kick with 58 seconds left in the game. The Hope College midfielder booted a crisp shot to the center of the net, but the keeper came out and made a nice save.

It was that kind of night for the Flying Dutchmen. They settled for a 0-0 draw after a double-overtime game with Ohio Northern University on Saturday evening at Van Andel Stadium. 

During the opening weekend of the season, the Flying Dutchmen went 0-1-1 against two opponents who also made the last NCAA Division III Tournament in 2019. Ohio Wesleyan won at Hope, 2-0 on Friday, and tied Calvin University, 3-3, on Saturday. Ohio Northern lost at Calvin, 2-1, on Friday.

"I think it was four really good, pretty even teams in this tournament, and I think the results bear that out," head coach Brandt said. "Everything was razor-sharp close. Ohio Wesleyan is a very good team. I was disappointed in our performance yesterday. Our last preseason scrimmage was canceled due to lightning. So it's been 10 days since we've played. I thought the battling and the fitness were a little bit better against Ohio Northern. It was OK. But we've got a ways to go."

The rain started to fall with five minutes left in double overtime as Hope College keeper Daniel Hesselbein came out of the net to make a nice save. The freshman from Barrington, Illinois (Barrington Community HS) stopped all five shots he faced.

Ohio Northern keeper John Lombardo was equally as good. He stopped Hope's three shots on goal.

The Flying Dutchmen had 14 shots at goal to ONU's 13.

Freshman midfielder Thomas DeVries (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) led Hope with two shots on goal and four shots at goal. Flynn (Bloomington, Illinois / Bloomington) had the other shot on goal for the Flying Dutchmen.

Hope plays next on Friday, Sept. 10 when the Flying Dutchmen host Carthage College (Wisconsin) at 6 p.m. at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.