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Hope College

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Andon Rieger runs up field vs Adrian, MIAA semifinal.
Lynne Powe
Pictured, junior Andon Rieger
6
Adrian ADRIAN 8-8
20
Winner Hope HOPE 12-3
Adrian ADRIAN
8-8
6
Final
20
Hope HOPE
12-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Adrian ADRIAN 0 0 1 5 6
Hope HOPE 4 7 5 4 20

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | Alan Babbitt

Men's Lacrosse Cruises into the MIAA Tournament Title Game

Energetic and connected is how Hope College men's lacrosse coach Michael Schanhals described his team's start in postseason play on Wednesday. Dominant would have been appropriate, too.

The Flying Dutchmen rolled to a 20-6 victory against visiting Adrian College in the MIAA Tournament after netting the first 16 goals of the game and not letting the Bulldogs score for 40 ½ minutes.

Top-seeded Hope (12-3) advanced to host second-seeded Albion College in the championship game on Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m. at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Albion rallied to beat third-seeded Calvin University, 14-13, in overtime in the other semifinal.

"I thought we played really, really well. That's not by accident," head coach Michael Schanhals said of his team's complete effort all over the field. "That's a lot of hard work on cold days, weight room sessions, extra time on the wall and extra time with each other that has allowed us to play at a really high level."

Junior midfielder David Brace (Plymouth, Michigan / Plymouth HS) opened the scoring 36 seconds into the game, and the Flying Dutchmen never looked back.

Hope extended its lead to 4-0 by the end of the first quarter and 11-0 at halftime. The Flying Dutchmen pulled ahead 16-0 before fourth-seeded Adrian's leading scorer, Michael Jonas, put the Bulldogs on the board with 4:22 remaining in the third quarter.

All-MIAA attackers Michael Mann (Plymouth, Michigan / University of Detroit-Jesuit) and Gibson Heethuis (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) spearheaded Hope's offensive attack.

Heethuis, a second-team honoree, recorded a game-high eight points on four goals and four assists.

Mann, the MIAA Offensive MVP and a first-team selection, collected seven points on four goals and three assists.

Junior midfielder Andrew Lanham (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) scored three goals.

Brace and junior attacker Sam Bowen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern) chipped in two goals apiece.

Hope outshot Adrian, 65-28, while posting nine caused turnovers. Sophomore long-stick midfielder Will Jewell (Northville, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) finished with a team-best three caused turnovers.

Sophomore goalie and All-MIAA first-team honoree Jack Balmforth (Livonia, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) allowed just one goal and made 10 saves in 48 minutes, 14 seconds of action.

Prior to the game, the Flying Dutchmen honored six seniors: Mann, Raymo Blancato (Harbor Springs, Michigan / Green Mountain Valley), Sean Cunningham (South Lyon, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central), Marco Mularoni (Brighton, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central), Nate Jobson (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland West), and Michael Mileski (Inverness, Illinois / William Fremd).

It's a special group, Schanhals said.

"These seniors changed the trajectory of our program," Schanhals said. "We've been building and working. They came in as freshmen and changed us immediately with their energy, talent and drive. They've done a fantastic job."
 
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