A second-half shutdown from the Hope College men's lacrosse team proved to be the difference maker at Carthage College on Saturday. 

The Flying Dutchmen secured an 11-6 victory, scoring six of the seven second-half goals. 

Hope improved to 5-3 overall. 

The Flying Dutchmen blanked the Firebirds in the third quarter after a back-and-forth first half. 

Neither Hope nor Carthage had a lead larger than two goals before Hope broke away. 

Junior Freddy Kopplow (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City Saint Francis HS), senior Michael Mann (Plymouth, Michigan / University of Detroit-Jesuit), and sophomore John Foster (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) each led Hope with two goals apiece in the win. 

The Flying Dutchmen also received one goal apiece from junior Caden Brainard (Muskegon, Michigan / Reeths-Puffer), junior Sam Bowen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern), freshman Gibson Heethuis (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville), freshman Drew Curran (Parker, Colorado / Legend), and senior Sean Cunningham (South Lyon, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central). 

Hope outshot the Firebirds 49-33. Bowen fired a game-high six shots on goal while also recording two assists. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Jack Balmforth (Livonia, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) recorded seven saves for the Flying Dutchmen, including five during the second half. 

Mann led Hope with five ground balls, while Brainard, Foster and junior Luke Wierengo (Northville, Michigan / Northville) each picked up four ground balls in the win. 

Hope concludes non-league play on Wednesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. against Illinois Institute of Technology at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.