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#BeStrongBeTrue
Griffin Brown celebration scoring a goal with two Hope teamates.
Lynne Powe
From left, Cole Pauly, Griffin Brown, Matt Davidson, pictured
1
Adrian ADRIAN (1-7-2, 0-1-0)
7
Winner Hope HOPE (7-1-3, 1-0-0)
Adrian ADRIAN
(1-7-2, 0-1-0)
1
Final
7
Hope HOPE
(7-1-3, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Adrian ADRIAN 1 0 1
Hope HOPE 3 4 7

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Alan Babbitt

What Can (Griffin) Brown Do for Men's Soccer? Deliver a Hat Trick and a Victory

Griffin Brown's historic night did more than put him in the Hope College men's soccer record books.

On Tuesday, the senior midfielder from Livonia, Michigan (Stevenson HS) propelled the Flying Dutchmen to a 7-1 win against Adrian College in the MIAA opener by recording the fourth hat trick at Van Andel Soccer Stadium in program history.

Brown's two goals in a span of four minutes in the first half snapped a 1-1 tie. Hope tacked on four second-half goals, including a late one from Brown on a penalty kick, for its highest-scoring MIAA game since a 10-0 victory at then-Olivet College on October 16, 2019.

The Flying Dutchmen stretched their unbeaten streak to seven games and improved to 7-1-3 overall. Hope plays at defending MIAA champion Calvin University on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m.

"Griffin is always capable of being a "Man of the Match" contender. He's got a complete game," head coach David Blahnik said. "He's had a bit of rough luck early this year, and that's been a bit frustrating for him. It was good to see him break out because he's very deserving of that."

Brown joined Logan Bylsma (2018 vs. Olivet), Jason Muller (2011 vs. Alma) and Shaun Groetsema (2010 vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering) with hat tricks at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Hope needed Brown to deliver for them.

Five minutes after Thomas DeVries (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) gave the Flying Dutchmen a 1-0 lead off a cross from sophomore Cole Pauly (Mundelein, Illinois / Mundelein), Adrian evened the score on a Brady Musser header off a Hope foul and a long Bulldogs free kick.

The score remained deadlocked until the 39th minute, when Brown launched a 40-yard kick over Adrian goalkeeper Jackson Vacca's head and into the net.

Four minutes later, Brown buried the first of two penalty kicks for him following an Adrian foul in the box. The Bulldogs (1-7-2) never recovered.

"It was tighter than we wanted to be for a while, but at the same time, we were playing really well," Blahnik said. "We were moving the ball all over the place. It was exciting for us as a staff because we saw the players make the decisions and the changes needed to keep possession of the ball. We had total belief in our guys that they were going to figure it out, and they ultimately did."

Hope outshot Adrian by a 32-4 margin. Goalkeeper Daniel Hesselbein (Barrington, Illinois / Barrington Community) needed to make only one save. Vacca finished with seven saves.

In the second half, DeVries added his second goal of the game and his team-leading sixth of the season in the 64th minute.

Freshmen Caden Chenlo (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) and Josh Reyes (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Oakland Christian) scored 58 seconds in the 78th minute.

Brown completed his hat trick with a PK following an Adrian foul in the box in the 89th minute.
 
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