An outright championship nearly two decades in the making was claimed in unforgettable fashion.

Behind a historic second-half hat trick from sophomore Jackson Mindling, the Flying Dutchmen soccer team stormed past Trine University, 3–1, on Wednesday night at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

The regular-season finale victory secured Hope College's first outright MIAA men's soccer regular-season title in 19 years and the 16th in program history. As the top seed in the league tournament, the Flying Dutchmen (10-5-2 overall) receive a first-round bye and will host a semifinal match at home on Wednesday, Nov. 4, against an opponent to be determined.

"I am thankful and grateful for this group of guys because they deserve this," head coach David Blahnik said. "They've been putting in the work, many of them for four years with me, and they've done it the right way. Every team says they're putting in the work, but these guys truly did."

Hope shared last season's title with Trine, but on Wednesday night, there would only be celebration for the Orange and Blue

After a scoreless first half filled with near misses, the Flying Dutchmen broke through in the 66th minute junior Josh Weigel (Naperville, Illinois / Naperville Central) drove down the flank and slid a low pass across the box. Mindling (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) met it with his right foot, slotting home from seven yards out to ignite the home crowd.

Trine equalized in the 77th minute, adding to the tension because at the time Albion College led at Kalamazoo College late in the second half. An Albion win and a Hope tie would made Albion the MIAA champion. Kalamazoo eventuallly scored in the 86th minute to earn a 1-1 draw.

Hope's composure never wavered, a testament to the maturity Blahnik's squad has developed over the course of a challenging season.

"The whole reason we scheduled our non-conference was for this moment," Blahnik said. "If you looked at us in September, you might not have known what kind of season we were going to have. We scheduled tough teams, gave opportunities to new guys, and trusted our process. Maybe most of the league or region counted us out, but we didn't."

That belief came to life in the final minutes. In the 85th minute, sophomore Ryker Corstange (Richland, Michigan / Gull Lake HS) threaded a perfect ball into the box for Mindling, who buried a left-footed finish into the top corner. Barely two minutes later, Mindling struck again ,a curling 30-yard rocket that clanged off the post and in, sending the home crowd into a frenzy once more. 

It marked just the fifth hat trick ever recorded by a Hope men's soccer player at Van Andel Soccer Stadium, joining Griffin Brown (2023), Logan Bylsma (2018), Jason Muller (2011), and Shaun Groetsema (2010) in the record books. Mindling matched his career-best with 12 goals on the season.

The three-goal outburst all came in the second half as Hope poured on the pressure, outshooting Trine 21–7 and controlling every phase of play.

Sophomore goalkeeper Daniel Morgan (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) anchored the defense, allowing just one goal on two shots on target.