by Mackenzie McMahon

The Hope College men's lacrosse team battled until the end on the road at Aurora University on Wednesday. Aurora overcame the orange and blue in a single overtime period, 9-8. 

After the first quarter, the two teams were locked at two a piece, with sophomore Michael Mann (Plymouth, Michigan / University of Detroit-Jesuit HS) and senior Jack Radzville (Howell, Michigan / Howell) put in the two Hope College goals at 8:58 and 0:14, respectively. 

Aurora grabbed two goals to the Flying Dutchmen's one in the second quarter. Radzville picked up his second goal of the game at the 7:05 mark before heading to halftime. 

Three unanswered Aurora goals were all that came from the third quarter, as the Spartans took a 7-3 lead. 

Hope outscored Aurora 5-1 in the fourth quarter to tie the game and force an extra period of play. Mann would score three times, while Radzville fired in two more while also picking up an assist on one of Mann's goals to help fuel the Flying Dutchmen's comeback. 

Aurora would find open net with 0:23 seconds remaining in the first OT to take the win, ending Hope's four-goal streak. 

Mann and Radzville each tallied four goals, with Mann grabbing a single assist, and Radzville tacking on two assists on the night. Seniors Cole Scheffler (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) and Tucker Martinez (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland West) led the team with five ground balls each. 

Senior Ian Bosman (Centennial, Colorado / Cherry Creek) was in net for Hope College, picking up 20 saves on 29 shots faced. 

Hope moves to 5-2 on the season, with four non-league games remaining until MIAA play begins. The orange and blue head to Lake Forest University (Ill.) on Friday, March 25, for their next game, with a start time of 5 p.m.