The 15th-ranked Hope College men's soccer team pushed the Briton defensive wall in the second half on Saturday at Van Andel Soccer Stadium to claim a 2-0 victory.

The Flying Dutchmen (11-1-2, 3-0-1 MIAA) kept in the thick of the MIAA race by scoring twice after halftime.

Hope kept the offensive pressure on against Albion (1-6-2, 1-2-1 MIAA) for the whole game. The Orange and Blue outshot the Britons by a 28-6 margin.

"I think we played really well from the start," said head coach David Blahnik. "I'm happy with the way we're moving the ball, and defending the ball." 

The Flying Dutchmen executed an early blitz against the visitors, with multiple goal attempts, including a scissor kick from senior Cole Pauly (Mundelein, Illinois / Mundelein HS) that was thwarted by Albion goalkeeper Tom Veresh.

Three minutes into the second half, continuing the sustained offensive pressure, Seth Walters (St. Joseph, Michigan / St. Joseph) displaced a Briton deep in the corner to find the foot of sophomore Alan Alcala. 

Alcala (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) finished a left-footed shot into the opposite corner of the net to lift Hope up 1-0. 

It was Alcala's third goal of the season and third game-winner.

Walters delivered his career-high ninth goal of the season 15 minutes later.

Sophomore Josh Weigel (Naperville, Illinois / Naperville Central) sent a through ball with magic past the outstretched feet of multiple Britons to find Walters on a well-timed run in the box. 

Walters found open net with a left-footed poke for his ninth goal of the season. He finished with nine shots.

Senior Daniel Hesselbein (Barrington, Illinois / Barrington Community) defended the Hope net, blocking Albion's lone shot on net to collect his sixth shutout of the season and the 21st for his career.

Hope travels to Alma College on Wednesday, Oct. 23, for a 4 p.m. kickoff. The start time has been moved up 30 minutes.