Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Hope College

Scoreboard

#BeStrongBeTrue
Men's Lacrosse vs. Calvin
Lynne Powe
7
Trine TRINE 14-5
8
Winner Hope HOPE 17-0
Trine TRINE
14-5
7
Final
8
Hope HOPE
17-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Trine TRINE 1 3 1 2 7
Hope HOPE 1 4 1 2 8

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | Alan Babbitt

Men's Lacrosse Denies Trine Another Upset, Thunders into MIAA Tournament Championship Game

Hope will host Calvin University in the finals

The unbeaten Hope College men's lacrosse team, clinging to a one-goal lead, stared at a two-minute unreleasable penalty kill against a confident and dangerous opponent eyeing another postseason upset.

The Flying Dutchmen weathered the Thunder's storm, fending off several score-tying chances from fourth-seeded Trine University to preserve an 8-7 victory in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament, presented by Collegiate Credit Union, on Tuesday at Van Andel Stadium.

Hope (17-0) dramatically advanced to host second-seeded Calvin University for the MIAA Tournament championship on Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. at Van Andel Stadium. The Flying Dutchmen defeated the team that last beat them. Trine upset Hope, 8-7, in the 2025 semifinals, scoring all four fourth-quarter goals.

The Flying Dutchmen now face Calvin, a 17-10 winner over third-seeded Albion College on Tuesday, in a championship moment for the second time in two weeks. Hope won The Rivalry showdown, 19-7, on April 18 at Van Andel Stadium to clinch a share of a third consecutive MIAA regular-season championship that the Flying Dutchmen went on to win outright.

Head coach Michael Schanhals said his team delivered during a challenging, season-defining moment.

"It starts with preparation. We got a fantastic scout from Jack Morris, who's a student coach for us, for Trine's man-up system. They ran it how we thought they'd run it, and the boys were in the right position to take care of it," Schanhals said. "[Goalie] Jack Balmforth stood on his head and had some beautiful saves. We cleared the ball and had possession. A lot of gritty, tough things had to happen for us to protect that lead."

Hope killed off all five of Trine's extra-man opportunities. The thrilling finish extended Hope's longest winning streak and best start to a season in program history. 

Down a man with 2 minutes, 53 seconds remaining, the Flying Dutchmen sandwiched a save and a caused turnover around two missed shots from Trine (14-5). 

Balmforth first stopped a low, bouncing blast from 20 yards from the Thunder's Chris Molnar. The senior from Livonia, Michigan (Detroit Catholic Central) finished with 10 saves. Hope then cleared the ball and ran more time off the block, but turned it over with 11 seconds remaining in the kill.

During the final minute, Trine, which scored twice earlier in the period to pull within a goal, ripped two shots high over the cage. Sophomore long-stick midfielder Tyler Berens of West Olive, Michigan (West Ottawa) stripped the ball away from Trine's Landon Kruse, leading to a successful clear. The Thunder took the ball back but could not get a shot off in time.

Offensively, All-MIAA First Team attack Gibson Heethuis recorded a game-high four goals and chipped in an assist. The junior from Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) scored three times over 2:14 to give the Flying Dutchmen a 5-2 lead midway through the second quarter.

All-MIAA First Team attack Preston Hoexum of Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern) added two goals. The Flying Dutchmen also received goals from sophomore midfielder Ben Torrence of Portage, Michigan (Portage Northern) and All-MIAA First Team freshman midfielder Jackson Arnold of Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern).

Torrence netted Hope's final goal, set up by Heethuis with 11:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, pushing the Flying Dutchmen's lead to 8-5.

Trine, which Hope beat 10-7 on April 8 on the road, is the only MIAA team so far the Flying Dutchmen haven't beaten by double digits.

 
Print Friendly Version