Lacrosse becomes an intercollegiate sport at Hope College in 2012-13. It will also mark the beginning as a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) sport in the spring of 2013. The league schedule has been determined. The non-league portion of the season is to be announced.

All-Conference Honors Are Announced
Five Hope players have been named to the all-conference team of the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA). Honored are sophomore Will Franken (attackman) of Holland (West Ottawa HS), senior Ryan Holmes (defenseman) of Ann Arbor (Piopneer HS) junior Josh Kamstra (midfielder) of Zeeland (Zeeland East HS), sophomore Niko Pagkanlungan (midfielder) of Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier HS), sophomore Michael Schofield (midfielder) of Mendham (Mendham HS) and freshman Ben Weber (goalie) of Ann Arbor (Pioneer HS).

Will Franken finished the year as the leading scorer in the CCLA and second nationally with 40 goals and a like number of assists over 15 games.

Buzzer-Beater Ends Flying Dutchmen Season (4/28/12)
The Flying Dutchmen fell 12-11 on a buzzer-beater to host Indiana Tech in the quarterfinals of the CCLA playoffs. Tied at 11-11, the Warriors scored with one second left on the clock to advance in the CCLA Playoffs. The loss caps a fine 11-4 season for Hope.

Flying Dutchmen Defeat Rival Calvin (4/24/12)
It was a beautiful evening for Senior Night in VanAndel Stadium as the Hope College Flying Dutchmen beat Calvin 15-4 in the last home game of the season. Jake Kamstra, Will Franken, Niko Pagkanlungan, Chris Scheldt, Nick Raycraft, Pete Stuckey, Ryan VanderPloeg, and Josh Kamstra all scored for Hope. Seniors Ryan Holmes, Noah Busman, Chris Scheldt, and Keegan Aguilera were honored before the game.

Flying Dutchmen Post Road Victory(4/20/12)
The Judson Eagles scored first, but Hope came roaring back with 13 unanswered goals to take a 21-4 victory on the campus of Judson University. Will Franken led the way for the Dutchmen with a 12-point effort on six goals and six assists. Ryan VanderPloeg had a goal from his LSM position and he also scooped seven ground balls in front of a friendly crowd that included the majority of his family from nearby Mundelein. All of the Dutchmen saw action in the contest.

Flying Dutchmen Bow in Divisional Title Match (4/19/12)
On a soggy evening in Grand Rapids the Dutchmen fell to the Davenport Panthers 16-9 in the North Divisional CCLA Championship Game. It was a tight contest until the fourth quarter when DU tallied seven goals to Hope's two. Josh Kamstra and Caleb Digison each chipped in four goals, and Nick Raycraft had a solo goal. Will Franken, Niko Pagkanlungan, Josh Kamstra, and Jake Kamstra each had assists. Michael Schofield won 15 faceoffs and Ben Weber finished with ten saves.

Flying Dutchmen Gain Exhibition Victory Over Michigan (4/14/12)
Hope held on to an 11-10 victory at Elbel Field on the campus of the University of Michigan. Hope never trailed in the contest, racing out to a 4-0 lead, but the Wolverines kept fighting back to close the gap. The game ended with a solid defensive stand from the Dutchmen. All players saw action in the exhibition contest.

Flying Dutchmen Post Close Home Victory (4/13/12)
The Dutchmen ground out a 13-11 victory over the visiting Warriors of Indiana Tech under the lights at VanAndel Stadium on Friday. The lead changed hands several times and there were timely goals by Matt Hemenway, Caleb Digison, and Will Franken down the stretch. Josh Kamstra, Nick Raycraft, Niko Pagkanlungan, and Sean Murphy also added points in the back and forth affair. Ben Weber had an outstanding game between the pipes with 18 saves, and Michael Schofield won 14 out of 20 draws. Ryan Holmes and Noah Busman also made an impact with their defensive takeaways and ground ball play. Hope travels to the University of Michigan Saturday (4/14) for an exhibition game, and then resumes CCLA play with the CCLA Northern Division Championship game at Davenport University next Thursday.

Flying Dutchmen Bow in Defensive Struggle to Lakers (4/11/12)
The shots didn't fall for Hope College this evening as Danny Kransberger from GVSU had 27 saves to hold the Dutchmen offense to only seven goals in a 14-7 loss at VanAndel Stadium. Hope's defense played admirably, holding their attack line to just four goals in the contest behind Ryan Holmes shutting out their All American attackman Jack Dumsa. Josh Kamstra started at attack in place of injured starter Austin Krehel and scored four goals and an assist. Will Franken chipped in three assists, and Niko Pagkanlungan, with two goals, and Nicklas Raycraft also got on the board for the Dutchmen.

Flying Dutchmen Secure Playoff Bid With Victory (4/6/12)
Hope qualified for the CCLA playoffs for the fourth consecutive year with a 22-1 Northern Division victory at Northwood University. Will Franken scored six goals and had five assists, Jake Kamstra had six goals and two assists, and Austin Krehel chipped in four goals. Niko Pagkanlungan, Josh Kamstra, Sean Murphy, Keegan Aguilera, and Caleb Digison rounded out the scoring. Ben Weber had seven saves and once again the Dutchmen defense was stout. All players saw action on a very chilly evening in Midland.

Flying Dutchmen Extend Winning Streak to Six In-a-Row (4/3/12)
The Flying Dutchmen dominated the Saints of Aquinas defensively holding them to a single tally in a 14-1 win at home under the lights of VanAndel Stadium. Ryan Holmes played excellent shut down defense, and Andrew Reed intercepted multiple passes from his longpole position. Ben Weber had eleven saves in the cage, and Noah Busman, Ryan VanderPloeg and Scott Bahash were terrific on ground balls to help control the tempo of the contest. Michael Schofield won 13 faceoffs and had seven ground balls and six Dutchmen got on the scoreboard on offense. Will Franken, Niko Pagkanlungan, Nick Raycraft, Austin Krehel, Josh Kamstra and Jake Kamstra all had points in the contest. The Dutchmen travel to Northwood University on Thursday for a CCLA Northern Division contest. It is a must win for the 6-1 Hope squad. They secure a bid to the CCLA playoffs for the fourth straight year with a victory in Midland.

Defense Keys Flying Dutchmen Victory (3/31/12)
The Flying Dutchmen used a staunch defense to post a 13-5 victory over nationally ranked (#15) Missouri Baptist on Saturday in Fort Wayne, Ind. Keying Hope's sixth victory of the spring were defenders Ryan Holmes, Scott Bahash, Andrew Reed, and Noah Busman in front of goaltender Ben Weber. Michael Schofield dominated at the faceoff dot with 17 wins on 21 draws and the Dutchmen used their possessions to grind away at the scoreboard. Eight players scored for Hope's balanced attack: Franken, Pagkanlungan, Kamstra, Kamstra, Stuckey, Digison, Scheldt, and Raycraft. Will Franken is averaging seven points a game and is ranked second in the nation in ppg.

Flying Dutchmen Score Home Conference Victory (3/30/12)
On a chilly evening under the lights at VanAndel Stadium the Hope College Flying Dutchmen won their first CCLA Northern Division contest 23-3 over the visiting Wildcats from Northern Michigan University. The Wildcats struck first, but the Dutchmen reeled off thirteen unanswered goals to take control of the contest. Jake Kamstra led the scoring with six goals and three assists, and Will Franken chipped in five goals and three assists. Caleb Digison had a hat trick, and Niko Pagkanlungan had three assists and two goals. Nick Raycraft (2), Peter Stuckey (1-1), Chris Scheldt (1-2), Keegan Aguilera (1), Matt Hemenway (1), and Ryan VanderPloeg (1) all scored as well. Michael Schofield went an impressive 20 for 22 at the face off dot, and Noah Busman picked up eight ground balls. Ryan Holmes anchored the defense and had eight ground balls. Senior Captain Josh Kamstra stood tall in the net with nine saves.

Flying Dutchmen Defeat Future MIAA Opponent Alma (3/17/12)
In the first home varsity contest ever for Alma at Bahlke Field, the Flying Dutchmen ran away with a 19-1 victory. Austin Krehel had a breakout day offensively for the Dutchmen with a five goal performance, and Josh Kamstra stood tall between the pipes with five saves. The entire Hope roster saw plenty of action and were relentless on ground balls, communication, and solid team play. Senior Captain Noah Busman was all over the field today; he played excellent defense, corralled several loose balls, and had multiple takeaways. It was a nice week for the Dutchmen with two big wins over future MIAA rivals.

Flying Dutchmen Rout Rival Calvin for Season's Second Victory (3/15/12)
On a beautiful sunny afternoon at MVP Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids, the Flying Dutchmen took it to the Knights of Calvin 16-1. Calvin fought hard for ground balls and competed the entire contest, but Hope's scoring kicked in for a ten-goal second half and they ground out a victory. Will Franken led the way with 7 points (3G, 4A), and Niko Pagkanlungan had 5 points (2G, 3A). Austin Krehel, Jake Kamstra, Nick Raycraft all had hat tricks, and Chris Scheldt, Peter Stuckey, and Sean Murphy had solo tallies. Josh Kamstra stood up admirably in net and had a solid defensive wall in front of him. Andrew Reed, Ryan Holmes, Matt Gaggin, Noah Busman, and Ryan VanderPloeg all had takeaways. All members of the team contributed to the win.

Flying Dutchmen Post Season's First Victory (2/17/12)
The Flying Dutchmen raced out to a 7-3 halftime lead over Western Michigan University and held on for a 12-8 victory for their first win of the season. Josh Kamstra had 12 saves, and his brother Josh tallied four goals. Ryan Holmes had eight takeaways on defense, and Chris Scheldt scored two goals and had five takeaways. Niko Pagkanlungan and Will Franken each had two goals and two assists. It was a solid team effort and all the Dutchmen contributed. Hope has a 1-1 season record.

Flying Dutchmen Lose Season Opener to Central Michigan (2/3/12)
Playing indoors and with just a week of pre-season preparation, the Flying Dutchmen bowed in their opener to Central Michigan University 12-4. Freshman Nick Raycraft led the scoring with two goals, while freshman Matt Baar and sophomore Austin Krehel chipped in one a piece. Emergency goaltender and team captain Josh Kamstra finished with 13 saves.

2012 will be the final year of MCLA competition for the Flying Dutchmen before moving to the new MIAA Conference as a part of NCAA DIII. The CCLA Conference will provide stiff competition with five teams ranked in the MCLA Top 20 in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Davenport is the returning DII National Champion, and both Grand Valley State, and Dayton are top five programs. Hope comes in ranked #14 and Indiana Tech is also a Top 20 program. Hope will play conference divisional contests vs. Northern Michigan University, Northwood University, and Davenport University to qualify for the CCLA Playoffs. For the past three seasons Hope has been to the CCLA Final Four, and last season the Flying Dutchmen earned an at-large bid to the MCLA National Tournament in Denver.

Keegan Aguilera, Chris Scheldt, Noah Busman, and Ryan Holmes will look to provide senior leadership to our young team as we prepare for the season. Ten sophomores and three juniors, all with tournament experience, along with eight freshmen round out our squad. Junior Josh Kamstra -19 goals last season, and sophomore Will Franken - 23 goals last season, will lead the attack for the Dutchmen, and the defense will be led by Ryan Holmes – 45 ground balls and Noah Busman -68 ground balls. There will be competition at the face off dot between Chris Scheldt, Michael Schofield, and newcomer Matthew Hemenway.

The Flying Dutchmen begin their season in February with indoor contests vs. Division I schools Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University. The outdoor season begins with a rivalry game at Calvin College and then a trip to MIAA DIII Alma over spring break followed by the beginning of conference play at the end of March.

Coach Schanhals Will Guide Varsity Lacrosse
Posted January 10, 2012
When Hope College launches intercollegiate lacrosse for men and women next year it will be directed by head coaches very familiar with the program. The transition to intercollegiate sport will be under the tutelage of the current coaches Tracy Benjamin (women) and Michael Schanhals (men). Both played lacrosse during their Hope undergraduate days.

"We are delighted that both Mike and Tracy will remain with our lacrosse programs and student-athletes as we transition these teams to varsity status next year in Hope and MIAA athletics," said co-athletics director Eva Dean Folkert who will serve as the college's lacrosse coordinator. "They bring both significant knowledge and great enthusiasm to their work as lacrosse coaches. We know that the dedication and care they have already given to our club programs in the past will surely continue. We are fortunate to have them leading men's and women's lacrosse as new varsity offerings in Hope and MIAA sports."

The establishment of intercollegiate lacrosse at Hope coincides with its introduction as a sport by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in the 2012-13 school year. Competition in men's and women's lacrosse will continue as a club sport this spring. When it becomes intercollegiate there will be a non-traditional season next fall followed by conference regular season and tournament play in the spring of 2013. Hope's club lacrosse program has an established history, the men beginning in 1974 and the women in 2000.

A 1990 Hope graduate who played lacrosse, Schanhals has coached the Flying Dutchmen since 2005. He coached East Grand Rapids High School to state championships in 1993 and 1994 and for the past 18 years has taught in the North Muskegon public schools. He has coached football, basketball, and tennis during his tenure at North Muskegon. He is a US Lacrosse certified official. He coached the 2010 Flying Dutchmen to a 12-3 season mark and first-ever appearance in the national tournament of the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association.

Benjamin is a 2009 Hope graduate who majored in psychology and exercise science. She was an active member of the lacrosse club team, serving as captain in 2007 and club president in 2008 and 2009. In her first year as coach in 2011 she guided the Flying Dutch to a school-record 11 wins and the program's first-ever appearance in post-season play. She currently serves as a counselor in a program that helps troubled teens learn independent living skills.

The addition of lacrosse to the intercollegiate program brings to 20 the number of varsity sports sponsored by Hope, ten each for women and men.

Lacrosse to Become Varsity Sport in 2012-13
Posted September 6, 2011

Hope College will begin sponsoring intercollegiate lacrosse for men and women effective with the 2012-13 school year. The addition of these sports at Hope coincides with an announcement by the Michigan ntercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) to add lacrosse as varsity sports for both genders on the same timetable.

"We are very excited about the transition of the women’s and men’s lacrosse programs from club sport to varsity sport status," said Dr. Mark Northuis, chair of the department of kinesiology at Hope. "Both programs have been very successful at the club sport level and will receive every opportunity to be successful while representing Hope College in intercollegiate play. Knowledgeable coaches, excellent facilities, and a strong nucleus of players will help both programs be very competitive as they begin their varsity programs.

Hope currently offers lacrosse as a club sport for men and women. Initiated in 1974, the men's program is one of the oldest established collegiate lacrosse club programs in Michigan. The women's program was started in 2000. Both will continue as club sports this school year. continue

2011 marked a banner year for the Hope College Men’s Lacrosse program. The Flying Dutchmen finished 12-3-1 on the season and earned their first bid to the MCLA National Tournament in Denver, Colorado. Highlights of the season include: