Hope Men's Soccer Tops Olivet, Clinches MIAA Tournament Berth

Alex Lindsey and the Hope College men's soccer team are bound for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament.

The Flying Dutchmen clinched their berth with a 4-1 win against Olivet during a rainy and cold Senior Night on Saturday at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Hope (9-9-1 overall) will face unbeaten Calvin (18-0-1) on Wednesday in the MIAA semifinals at a time to be announced.

Lindsey scored twice late in the first half to give the Flying Dutchmen the lead for good.

The junior from East Lansing, Michigan (East Lansing HS) buried a cross from freshman Jared Wondergem of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville HS) to tie the score at 1-1 with 7 minutes, 29 seconds in the first half.

Just 1:12 later, Lindsey headed home a cross from senior Miguel Ramirez of Joliet Township, Michigan (Joliet Township West HS) for his third goal of the season. Lindsey now has three goals of the season.

Hope tacked on second half goals from freshmen Isaac Braak of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven HS) and Christian Dault of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven HS).

Braak's first goal of the season and Dault's second were both unassisted.

The Flying Dutchmen pushed their win streak to three games to finish MIAA play with a 6-7-1 league record. They needed the win to stay one game ahead of and avoid losing a playoff tiebreaker to Adrian, which upset second-place Kalamazoo 2-1.

Senior goalie Sam Barthel of Waukesha, Wisconsin (Waukesha HS), made two saves for Hope.

Barthel and Ramirez were among seven seniors honored in pregame ceremonies. Others were Ethan Beswick, Toby Blom, David Porte, Michael Johns and Andreas Slette.