HOLLAND, Mich. – The meeting of the undefeated teams in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association men's lacrosse action lived up to the billing Tuesday night.
Andrew Pavey scored 1:15 into overtime to lift Hope College to a 9-8 victory over Albion College at Van Andel Stadium.
Albion scored twice in the final 3:14 – on goals by Jacob Swift and Jace Conley – to force overtime.
Hope controlled possession for the entire overtime period. The Flying Dutchmen won the faceoff and Trevor McManus made the save on Hope's initial shot. Hope grabbed the groundball and worked the ball around for the winning goal.
McManus nearly stole the game for Albion, collecting a career-high 28 saves. In fact, it was the third time he's made at least 20 saves in his collegiate career. He made 23 saves at Sewanee in 2017 and 25 at Otterbein in 2018.
Conley figured on all three goals – scoring twice and assisting on the other – as Albion forged a 3-1 lead in the first quarter.
Conley and Brady Lawrence scored for Albion in the second quarter as the Britons led, 5-3, at halftime.
Max Kuiper tallied a pair of goals in the third quarter as Hope scored three times to gain a 6-5 lead.
Conley finished the night with five goals and an assist. His 38 goals lifts the first-year attackman from Waterford, Mich., into a tie with Drew Harm's 2017 total for seventh-most in a season at Albion.
Albion, 6-8 overall and 4-1 against MIAA rivals, will complete the regular season with a 7 p.m. Friday contest against Adrian College at Alumni Field.
Twitter: @Albion_MLax
Joe and Julie Serra have given a $5 million leadership gift to launch a fundraising initiative to make two dreams a reality at Albion College. The first is a newly expanded fitness and student activity facility at the site of the current Dow Recreation and Wellness Center. The second is a new or renovated competition facility for the volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball that currently call Kresge Gymnasium home.
The College is continuing to raise funds in support of both projects. To learn more, call 517/629-0446 or email advancement@albion.edu.