HOLLAND, Mich. -- Hope College men’s lacrosse completed its dominant conference campaign in championship fashion, capturing the 2026 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Presented by Collegiate Credit Union title and securing the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

After earning the tournament’s top seed with a perfect 6-0 conference record and receiving a first-round bye, the Flying Dutchmen delivered two impressive postseason victories to secure the program’s fifth tournament title and remain undefeated at 18-0 overall.

Hope opened tournament play with a thrilling 8-7 semifinal victory over Trine University. Senior goalkeeper Jack Balmforth anchored the defense with 10 saves, preserving the narrow win in one of the team’s toughest tests of the season.

Junior attacker Gibson Heethuis led the offense with a game-best four goals, while sophomore midfielder Weston Godbold added three assists. Freshman midfielder Jackson Vasquez played a pivotal role in possession, collecting a game-high eight ground balls and winning 8-of-10 faceoffs. Defensively, senior midfielder Jackson Early and sophomore long-stick midfielder Tyler Berens each caused three turnovers to help Hope withstand Trine’s pressure.

In the championship game, the Flying Dutchmen elevated their play even further, defeating rival Calvin University 15-9 to secure the tournament trophy.

Balmforth added five saves, while Hope’s offense exploded behind standout performances from Heethuis and sophomore attacker Preston Hoexum, who each scored four goals. Heethuis also orchestrated the offense with a game-best eight assists, showcasing one of the most complete performances of the postseason.

Berens, Vasquez, and senior defender John Foster each recorded five ground balls, while Berens dominated defensively with a game-high five caused turnovers.

Throughout the tournament, Hope displayed the same qualities that fueled its perfect season — offensive firepower, defensive discipline, and elite possession control.

Now, with an undefeated 18-0 record, Hope turns its attention to the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament. The Flying Dutchmen will learn their postseason path during the NCAA selection show on May 3, with first-round competition beginning May 6.

With a flawless record, a fifth tournament championship, and momentum at its peak, Hope enters NCAA play as one of the nation’s most formidable teams — and a program determined to continue its historic run.