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Josh Weigel sends a pass up field vs. Benedictine
Lynne Powe
Pictured, Josh Weigel
0
Benedictine (IL) BENIL (2-2-0, 0-0-0)
5
Winner Hope Hope (4-1-0, 0-0-0)
Benedictine (IL) BENIL
(2-2-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
5
Hope Hope
(4-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Benedictine (IL) BENIL 0 0 0
Hope Hope 0 5 5

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Alan Babbitt

Men's Soccer Detonates Second-Half Fireworks, Rockets Past Benedictine

Powerfully and skillfully, the Hope College men's soccer team put on quite the show.

Tuesday's late-night fireworks at Van Andel Soccer Stadium featured a second-half detonation of five goals that launched the Flying Dutchmen to a 5-0 victory against Benedictine University (Illinois).

Fueled by a victory at No. 23 Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday, Hope displayed an arsenal of four different goal scorers against the Eagles and won for the fourth time in five matches this season.

It was an impressive sight, especially after a significant first-half challenge from Benedictine (2-2).

"Kudos to Benedictine," head coach David Blahnik said. "They are a very talented team. They can attack quickly. They are very, very good individual defending, which makes it difficult to play the way we want to play. I was happy with how we moved the ball in the first half. We just needed to be better at the technical side of it.

"We talked about that a little at half, and it clearly worked."

Sophomore Josh Weigel (Naperville, Illinois / Naperville Central HS) ignited the barrage 6 ½ minutes into the second half.

Weigel took a pass at the top of the penalty area, dribbled right then left, and nimbly placed the soccer ball in between the far post and a Benedictine goalie kicking his right leg out and doing the splits. It was Weigel's second goal of the season.

In the 68th minute, senior Mario Hrvojevic (Lincolnwood, Illinois / Loyola Academy) launched a free kick for his first goal of the season. The shot from the near side whistled past the near post from 35 yards out.

Five minutes later, freshman Jackson Mindling (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) burst onto the scene.

After freshman Ryker Corstange (Richland, Michigan / Gull Lake) swiped the ball away near the top of the penalty area, Corstange blasted the feed top shelf from 25 yards out. 

Fifth-three seconds later, Mindling launched a 50-yard cross from the far side that junior Grant Hassenrik (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) headed into the net from the near post. It was Hassenrik's third goal of the season.

Mindling then delivered the grand finale in the 85th minute. Hassenrik returned the favor to his teammate, heading a long entry pass to the top of the penalty area. Midland blistered a screamer under the crossbar for his fourth goal of the season.

"I mentioned in the post-game speech it's fun to score a lot of goals, but those were highlight goals," Blahnik said. "I think we've had a good amount of those types of goals this year. Every goal counts the same, but it's fun when it's a highlight goal. We're happy to get those going."

Hope will take a two-match winning streak on the road for a non-league match on Friday, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m. Central at Concordia University Chicago.

 
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