Men's Lacrosse

Hope Men's Lacrosse Falls at No. 2 Bowdoin, Finishes "Best Time" in NCAA Quarterfinals

-- Story provided by Hope College Athletics --

?A pack of skilled Bowdoin College Polar Bears ended a historic season for the Hope College men's lacrosse team on Friday in Brunswick, Maine, but the Flying Dutchmen still swelled with pride.

There was so much to cherish, despite a 20-7 loss at second-ranked Bowdoin in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championships:

  • Twenty wins and the first undefeated regular season;
  • First national quarterfinal appearances in MIAA history;
  • First team with primarily student-athletes from the Midwest to advance this far in the national tournament;
  • Third consecutive outright MIAA regular-season title;
  • MIAA Tournament championship;
  • Memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

"It's been the most fun. We've had the best time together," head coach Michael Schanhals said after the Orange and Blue finished with a 20-1 record. "These guys have worked hard every single day. They worked, and they grew. They'll learn from today, too."

Added senior defender Brendan O'Donnell of Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake): "It's been the most special thing in the world to play with this group for the last four years. Every year we've gotten closer and closer. I feel connected to the whole community of Hope Lacrosse: all the alumni, all the families. That bond is going to continue to grow."

Bowdoin (19-1) pounced quickly, scoring 46 seconds into the game at Whittier Field and never trailing. 

After senior midfielder Jackson Early of East Lansing, Michigan (East Lansing) pulled Hope within a goal at the 10:21 mark of the first quarter, the Polar Bears hunted down four consecutive goals for a 6-1 lead with 3:34 remaining. 

Bowdoin cruised into the semifinals on Saturday, May 15, at 7 p.m. against No. 10 RIT, a 21-14 winner over No. 3 Babson in Friday's second game at Bowdoin.

Bill Mason, Bowdoin's head coach, praised the Flying Dutchmen during the post-game press conference.

"Any time there's eight teams left in the country, you know those are the best eight teams left. We prepared all week for what we thought was going to be an up-and-down affair, and it certainly was. They're a great transition team, a credit to their coaching staff and their group. They play the game hard. They play the game the right way," Mason said. "It's a style we're used to in our conference. Watching them on film, we said, 'Very similar to some things we've done. If we do these things, we can be successful.' I give credit to our face-off unit, who were able to control the game and make sure if it was going to be a track meet, it was going to be on our terms."

Bowdoin went 25-of-31 at the X, leading to a 64-21 advantage in shots. Hope defeated Bates College, a New England Small College Athletic Conference rival of Bowdoin's, in the third round despite a 25-5 disadvantage in faceoffs, but the Polar Bears proved more skilled in converting. Bowdoin received goals from 11 different sources, including junior Huck Trafton, who totaled a game-high four goals along with one assist.

Sophomore attack Preston Hoexum of Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern), topped Hope with two goals.

Junior attack Gibson Heethuis of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) recorded a team-best five points with one goal and four shots. 

Senior goalie Jack Balmforth of Livonia, Michigan (Detroit Catholic Central) stopped a season-high 19 shots.