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The Hope College men's lacrosse team hoists the MIAA Tournament championship trophy.
Alan Babbitt
13
Albion ALBION 8-11
17
Winner Hope HOPE 13-3
Albion ALBION
8-11
13
Final
17
Hope HOPE
13-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Albion ALBION 5 5 1 2 13
Hope HOPE 1 6 4 6 17

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | Alan Babbitt

Men's Lacrosse Charges Back to Earn Back-to-Back MIAA Tournament Titles

The 38-team NCAA Division III Tournament will be announced on Sunday, May 5, at 9 p.m.

An early charge saw the Hope College men's lacrosse team down four goals to start a game for the first time this season. It was at the least opportune time, too.

The Flying Dutchmen never wavered in the MIAA Tournament championship game and charged back for a 17-13 victory against Albion College in front of a Van Andel Soccer Stadium crowd.

Hope (13-3) completed a sweep of MIAA regular-season and tournament titles while clinching a berth in next week's NCAA Division III Tournament. The 38-team field will be announced on Sunday, May 5, at 9 p.m. on ncaa.com.

It was a satisfying achievement, head coach Michael Schanhals said.

"The strength of this team is the depth of this team," Schanhals said after Hope repeated as MIAA Tournament champions. "Every guy in the game [during Wednesday's semifinal vs. Adrian]. Every guy was in on our preparation for Albion. It's really a team win. Our team pulled through today. I couldn't be prouder."

Saturday marked the sixth consecutive time Hope and Albion played for the MIAA Tournament championship. The visiting team won four of the previous meetings.

After the opening five minutes and 21 seconds, it looked like history may be repeating itself. The Britons scored three times in a span of 2 minutes, 15 seconds, then added a fourth goal at the 9:39 mark. The Britons took a 5-1 lead into the second quarter.

The two teams combined for 11 second-quarter goals, leaving Albion ahead 10-7 at halftime.

Hope finally pulled even at 10-10 on a goal from senior midfielder Blaine Hynde (Muskegon, Michigan / Reeths-Puffer HS) with 4:34 remaining in the third quarter. 

The Flying Dutchmen then traded goals with Albion over a span of 38 seconds before taking the lead for good in the fourth quarter.

Hope received goals from sophomore midfielder Andon Rieger (Elmhurst, Illinois / York), senior attacker and MIAA Most Valuable Offensive Player Michael Mann (Plymouth, Michigan / University of Detroit-Jesuit), junior midfielder Andrew Lanham (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) and Mann again for a 15-11 lead after the first 6 minutes, 40 seconds of the final period.

Mann finished with a game-high five goals. Rieger scored three times. Freshman attacker and All-MIAA Second Team selection Gibson Heethuis added two goals and three assists. Junior midfielder Nick McCreery (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) delivered two goals.

All-MIAA First Team goalkeeper Jack Balmforth (Livonia, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) finished with 13 saves, including five during the fourth quarter.

Marcus Haynie and Ethan Rottell topped Albion (8-11) with three goals apiece.

 
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