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#BeStrongBeTrue
Michael Mileski holds a long stick
Junebug Photography
Pictured, senior MIchael Mileski
13
Winner Hope HOPE 11-3, 5-0
5
Trine TRINE 7-9, 1-4
Winner
Hope HOPE
11-3, 5-0
13
Final
5
Trine TRINE
7-9, 1-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Hope HOPE 3 4 3 3 13
Trine TRINE 1 1 2 1 5

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | Alan Babbitt

Men's Lacrosse Earns MIAA Title Share with 13-5 Victory at Trine

Senior Michael Mann set Hope's career goals record during the game

With an MIAA title share within grasp, the Hope College men's lacrosse team didn't need motivation to play at Trine University Tuesday night.

The Flying Dutchmen seized control early and marched to a 13-5 victory over the Thunder that clinched at least a share of an MIAA regular-season championship and the top seed for next week's MIAA Tournament.

Hope (11-3 overall, 5-0 MIAA) earned its fourth regular-season title, joining previous champions from 2022, 2019 and 2018. The Flying Dutchmen can win it outright on Saturday, April 27, at 4 p.m. when they host Alma College on Senior Day.

"We're so happy," head coach Michael Schanhals said. "It was a really energetic game. The guys got off the bus ready to go and were energized the whole time. We're thrilled. There is good energy coming on the bus ride home."

Hope also celebrated another career milestone. 

Senior Michael Mann (Plymouth, Michigan / University of Detroit Jesuit) scored three times and set the Flying Dutchmen's career goals record with 186. The attacker passed Gunnar Elder, who totaled 183 goals between 2014-17.

Mann previously set Hope's career assists and points records during Saturday's 11-6 victory against Kalamazoo.

Against Trine, Mann shared game-high scoring honors with freshman attacker Gibson Heethuis (Hudsonville, MIchigan / Hudsonville), who also recorded a game-high five assists.

Hope's seventh consecutive victory followed a familiar script.

The Flying Dutchmen jumped out to an early 3-1 lead with a run of three consecutive goals, then smothered another opponent — creating turnovers, limiting shots and reducing scoring opportunities.

Hope finished with 22 caused turnovers (by 16 different Trine players), earned a 47-25 edge in shots and held an opponent to fewer than six goals for the third consecutive game. 

Trine (7-9, 1-4 MIAA) scored more than once only in one quarter — the third.

Sophomore goalie Jack Balmforth (Livonia, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) 

It was another satisfying collective performance, particularly with two starters sidelined for the game with injuries, Schanhals said.

"It's a total team effort, from the face-off to the wings and our riding," Schanhals said. "We're turning teams over. We're possessing the ball more. We're doing a nice job of taking the ball and holding deep into the shot clock. We have so many talented midfielders who just do the work up and down the field. There's been a lot of people involved; everyone is just going 100 miles per hour."

Schanhals praised defenders such as senior Michael Mileski (Inverness, Illinois / William Fremd), sophomore Brendan O'Donnell (Spring Lake, Michigan / Spring Lake) and sophomore Kyle McVittie (Naperville, Illinois / Neuqua Valley) for stepping into the starting lineup when the Flying Dutchmen needed them.

He also praised Balmforth for helping to keep Hope's defense on point.

"These guys work together so well. I'm proud of them," Schanhals said. "I can't talk about our defense without mentioning Jack. He's been an emotional leader and helped the defense stay together through lineup changes."

 
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