The Hope College men's lacrosse team notched its first victory of the season on Saturday, defeating Lake Forest 10-7 at Van Andel Soccer Stadium on a blistery Saturday. 

The Flying Dutch used a strong start and a dominant fourth quarter to pull away from Lake Forest. 

The win not only gave Hope its first triumph of the season but also extended Lake Forest's struggles, marking their third consecutive loss.

Hope set the tone early, jumping out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter behind a balanced offensive attack. 

The Flying Dutch dictated possession and capitalized on early scoring opportunities while their defense held Lake Forest in check. 

The Foresters responded in the second quarter, narrowing the gap with three goals, but Hope maintained a 5-4 advantage heading into halftime.

The third quarter saw just one goal from each team, leading to the fourth quarter, where Hope took over once again, delivering a four-goal burst that secured the victory. 

Senior Nick McCreery (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford HS) led the charge offensively, recording three goals and an assist to pace the Flying Dutch attack. Senior Sam Bowen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern) also had a standout performance, contributing two goals and an assist.

Senior Caden Brainard (Muskegon, Michigan / Reeths-Puffer), junior Jack McNamara (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Central), junior Andrew Lanham (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford), senior David Brace (Plymouth, Michigan / Plymouth), and junior Jackson Early (East Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing) each found the back of the net a single time.

Hope's offensive pressure was relentless, as the team fired 42 total shots, consistently testing the Lake Forest defense.

In addition to their offensive execution, Hope controlled key possessions throughout the game, winning 12 of 21 faceoffs and maintaining an edge in ground balls. 

The Flying Dutch defense played a pivotal role, forcing 28 turnovers and limiting Lake Forest's scoring chances. 

Junior goalkeeper Jack Balmforth (Livonia, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) stood tall in net, making crucial saves down the stretch to preserve the lead. Balmforth finished with five total saves. 

Hope is back on the field on Wednesday, March 5, at 5 p.m. on the road against Oberlin College (Ohio) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.