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Alan Alcala holds a soccer ball on his shoulder.
Junebug Photography
Pictured, Alan Alcala
2
Winner Hope HOPEM (3-1-0)
1
Ohio Wesleyan OWUM (3-1-0)
Winner
Hope HOPEM
(3-1-0)
2
Final
1
Ohio Wesleyan OWUM
(3-1-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Hope HOPEM 1 1 2
Ohio Wesleyan OWUM 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Alan Babbitt

Alan Alcala, Men's Soccer Savor Breakthrough Victory at No. 23 Ohio Wesleyan

Midfielder Alan Alcala and the Hope College men's soccer team delivered a breakthrough performance on Saturday night in Delaware, Ohio.

Alcala scored his first collegiate goal late in the second half to lift the Flying Dutchmen to a 2-1 victory at No. 23-ranked and unbeaten Ohio Wesleyan University.

It was Hope's first victory against Ohio Wesleyan, a perennial national power, in 17 tries. The Flying Dutchmen previously tied OWU four times, including in the 1994 national tournament. Hope won a shootout against top-ranked OWU to advance to the Sweet 16.

The Flying Dutchmen rebounded from a tough 2-1 loss at 15th-ranked Ohio Northern University to improve their record to 3-1 overall.

"I felt like our guys have been more than deserving of a result like this," head coach David Blahnik said. "They put in the work to deserve a win against a nationally-ranked team on the road. We showed this week that, if we work hard and follow the game  plan, we can compete with and win against anybody in the country on any given night."

Alcala (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central HS) struck five minutes after Ohio Wesleyan tied the score and less than two minutes after returning as a sub.

The sophomore pounced when Hope stole possession following an Ohio Wesleyan pass-back attempt.

Head coach David Blahnik was proud of his team's resilient performance, particularly against an Ohio Wesleyan team that beat No. 11 Calvin University, 2-1, on Friday night.

"We've been in these games then tried to hold onto the tie," Blahnik said. "We put down the pedal and went for it. "Alan nearly scored against Ohio Northern, but their keeper made an amazing save. He scored a beautiful one-touch goal [vs. Ohio Wesleyan]."

The Flying Dutchmen held a 1-0 lead for much of the game.

Junior Seth Walters (St. Joseph, Michigan / St. Joseph) struck 1 minute, 50 seconds into the first half.

Walters converted a corner kick from senior Mario Hrvojevic (Lincolnwood, Illinois / Loyola Academy) for his second goal of the season. It was Hrvojevic's first assist of the season.

"We've been encouraging them to start hot regardless of who we're playing and where we're playing," Blahnik said. "This game, we started really well and earned a well-deserved goal."

The two teams combined for 30 shots: 16 to Hope, 14 to Ohio Wesleyan

Goalkeeper Daniel Hesselbein (Barrington, Illinois / Barrington Community) recorded three saves for the Flying Dutchmen.

Hope's next match is Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. vs. Benedictine University (Illinois) at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.
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