The Hope College men's lacrosse team heads into a challenging stretch run on a program-best, nine-match win streak after an 18-2 win against visiting Kalamazoo on Saturday at Van Andel Stadium.

The Flying Dutchmen are 9-3 overall and share first place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association with Albion with a 3-0 league record. The nine wins are the most in their four-year varsity history.

Hope concludes MIAA regular-season play over the next two weeks against the other four teams in the league: Albion, Alma, Olivet and Trine.

Junior Gunnar Elder of East Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS) topped the Flying Dutchmen against Kalamazoo with four goals and four assists.

Elder set up three of Hope's first four goals that helped give the Flying Dutchmen a 4-0 first-period lead.

Elder added Hope's single-season assist leader to his goalscoring school record by reaching 32 assists. He passed Jacob Kamstra, who had 31 during the 2014 season.

Freshman Gino Battaglia of Lebanon, Ohio (Lebanon HS) also collected four goals for the Flying Dutchmen.

Junior Zach Weber of Ann Arbor, Michigan (Pioneer HS) chipped in three goals for Hope.

Senior Parker Osterink of Longwood, Florida (Seminole HS) and freshman Thomas Sprys-Tellner of Brighton, Michigan (Detroit Catholic Central HS) added two goals apiece.

The Flying Dutchmen return to action on Wednesday, April 20 at Alma for a 7 p.m. match.