The Flying Dutchmen were in familiar territory as they opened their season with a pair of shutout victories to capture the championship of the Anderson University Invitational. A year after posting a school-record 13 shutouts, the Dutchmen have already outscored their early opponents 9-0.
Hope 3, Thomas More, Ky. 0
In their opener, the Flying Dutchmen opened their season by blanking Thomas More,
Ky. 3-0.
The Dutchmen dominated the field of play, holding a 20-6 advantage in shots on goal. But it took three goals in a span of 20 minutes in the second half to get the Hope offense in gear. The teams were scoreless in the first half despite an 11-2 Hope advantage in shots-on-goal.
Eight minutes into the second half senior forward Bryant Loomis snapped the stalemate with Chris Sterling and Tim Kelly each gaining an assist.
Freshman Geoffrey Meyer scored his first collegiate goal off a corner kick from Kelly midway through the second half.
Loomis scored his second goal of the game with an assist credited to Meyer.
Senior Marcus Voss (80 minutes) and freshman Jeremy Ruberg (10 minutes) were in the goal for the Dutchmen. With six saves, Voss was credited with his 29th career shutout.
Hope 6, Anderson 0
A year ago the soccer-playing days of incoming Hope freshman Dan Olson were in jeopardy
as he suffered an ACL injury. He became the team's manager and began the long rehabilitation
process.
In the tournament championship game the sophomore from Mason, Mich. was on the field as a player and was rewarded with the hat trick in leading the Flying Dutchmen to a 6-0 win over host Anderson.
Olson scored all his goals in a span of nine minutes in the first half as Hope gained a 4-0 advantage.
Senior Bryant Loomis scored just 40 seconds into the game for his third goal of the young season.
Scoring in the second half were sophomore Tyler Basler and freshman Karter Klingenberg.
Hope held a 15-2 advantage in shots on goal and held Anderson without a shot in the second half as Marcus Voss and Jeremy Ruberg combined for the shutout.
Seven different players were credited with an assist -- Tyler Bassler, Ed Huebner, Tim Kelly, Kyle Nevenzel, Chris Sterling, Todd Chappa and Aaron Viles.
Bryant Loomis, a senior from Fredonia, N.Y., was voted the tournament's most valuable offensive player while sophomore Todd Chappa of Portage received the honor as the most valuable defensive player.