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#BeStrongBeTrue
Six Hope lacrosse players huddle to celebrate a goal.
Lynne Powe
9
Calvin CALVIN 8-4, 1-1
11
Winner Hope HOPE 8-3, 2-0
Calvin CALVIN
8-4, 1-1
9
Final
11
Hope HOPE
8-3, 2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Calvin CALVIN 2 0 1 6 9
Hope HOPE 2 4 2 3 11

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | Alan Babbitt

Men's Lacrosse Fends off Calvin, Stays Unbeaten in This Rivalry

The Hope College men's lacrosse team remained undefeated all-time against Calvin University on Tuesday, but not without a few moments of apprehension.

The Flying Dutchmen held off the late-charging Knights for an 11-9 victory in front of a season-high Van Andel Soccer Stadium crowd of 473.

Calvin scored six times during the fourth quarter, including the final four goals of the game. The margin of victory was Hope's narrowest since the two schools began competing at the NCAA Division III level in 2013. The previous closest game was a 17-9 Flying Dutchmen victory last season.

Hope, which leads the all-time series, 15-0, received the challenge it expected, head coach Michael Schanhals said. Both teams entered Tuesday 1-0 in MIAA play.

"We knew this was going to be a good game. They're coming in with an excellent record. They're really improved. Dave has done a fantastic job with their program to make this a real feel of a rivalry game," Schanhals said. "I think we controlled the game. It got a little exciting at the end; that's what happens. They've got a good team, and they're proud. They're not going to stop. They're going to fight with everything they have. Props to them for giving it a good go at the end."

The Flying Dutchmen extended their win streak to four games while improving to 8-3 overall and 2-0 against MIAA opponents. Hope holds a half-game lead over idle Trine University in the league standings.

Calvin (8-4 overall) is one of three teams with 1-1 MIAA records. The Knights already have matched their overall win total from last season.

Schanhals said he liked how his team competed against the Knights.

"I liked the consistency of our effort. We just kept working hard at the tempo and pace in which we play," Schanhals said. "It's hard to match that especially if you're not used to doing that every day. I like the way we prepare to make sure we can put it up on a plane and keep it there. I thought we did a nice job of that against Calvin. I was really proud of our guys."

Hope snapped a 2-2 tie by scoring the final four goals of the first half.

Junior midfielder David Brace (Plymouth, Michigan / Plymouth HS) netted the game-winner at the 11:53 mark of the second quarter.

The Flying Dutchmen earned a 6-2 halftime lead after striking twice during the final 56 seconds of the half. 

After senior defender Michael Mileski (Inverness, Illinois / William Fremd) forced a turnover, the Flying Dutchmen produced an extended possession that ended successfully on an unassisted goal from freshman attacker Gibson Heethuis (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville).

Junior face-off specialist Caden Brainard (Muskegon, Michigan / Reeths-Puffer) then forced another turnover after Calvin won the faceoff. Heethuis then set up sophomore midfielder Jack McNamara (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) for a goal 31 seconds before halftime.

Hope pulled ahead 11-5 with 6:40 remaining in the fourth quarter after sophomore midfielder Jackson Early (East Lansing, Michigan/ East Lansing) scored. Two Brace man-up goals over a span of 2:22 started the surge.

Calvin battled to pull within two goals, but not until there were 25 seconds left on the clock.

Christian Coler topped the Knights with three goals. Hope outshot Calvin by a 38-33 margin and committed 20 turnovers to the Knights' 27.

Sophomore goalie Jack Balmforth (Livonia, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) made 21 saves for the Flying Dutchmen. Calvin goalie Corgan Schaumburg made 17 saves.
 
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