by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College men's lacrosse team pounced on a two-minute man advantage early in the second quarter against Trine University on Wednesday.

The Flying Dutchmen scored twice during an unreleaseable penalty on the Thunder to provide the separation they needed during the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament.

Top-seeded Hope never relinquished the lead enroute to a 13-9 victory that earned the right to host the championship game. The Flying Dutchmen (15-2 overall) will host second-seeded Albion College on Saturday, May 7, at 3 p.m. In Wednesday's other semifinal, Albion defeated third-seeded Adrian College, 11-7.

Head coach Michael Schanhals said the Trine penalty provided the Flying Dutchmen with a little more space for their offense.

"We were moving the ball and initiating our sets in our regular 6-on-6 offense, getting some good shots. Their goalie did a nice job of  saving them," Schanhals said. "We emphasizing turning the goalie and getting him out of position. It's a little easier to do that on an unrelease. We found some people for some easy goals. A bonus for us emotionally when we get an easy one, especially when you know it's an unreleasable penalty and they have to face us again because we have Cole (Scheffler) on the dot for the face-off, ready to pick the ball up."

After dominating fourth-seeded Trine during a 20-5 road victory on April 16, Hope faced a stiffer challenge in the rematch. The Flying Dutchmen held a 3-2 lead heading into the second quarter.

Senior attack Zach Wiggins (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Mattawan HS), pictured, and sophomore Michael Mann (Plymouth, Michigan / Detroit Jesuit) struck for man-up goals 47 seconds apart to put the Flying Dutchmen ahead 5-2 lead with 9:54 remaining in the half.

Trine rallied but never pulled closer than two goals. The Thunder finished the season with a 9-5 overall record.

Wiggins netted a team-high four goals, giving him a career-high 56 on the season. 

Senior Jack Radzville (Howell, Michigan / Howell) and sophomore Marco Mularoni (Brighton, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) added two goals apiece. Radzville also had a team-best three assists.

Radzville now has 54 goals on the season, making him and Wiggins the first Hope teammates to each have 50-goal seasons.

Senior goalie Ian Bosman (Centennial, Colorado / Cherry Creek) recorded nine saves for his 14th win of the season.

Senior Cole Scheffler (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) earned the Flying Dutchmen an 18-8 edge in faceoffs and collected a team-best 11 ground balls.

Hope's 15 wins tie the team record for wins in a season, equaling the 2018 team that went 15-2.