ALBION, Mich. – In the heavyweight fight to decide first place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in men's lacrosse, Albion College land the knockout punch and it came away with a 14-11 loss to Hope College at the Davis Athletic Complex.

Brandon Lebioda, Alec Palmer and Paul Lewis scored as Albion took a 3-1 lead with 7:45 to play in the first quarter.

Nothing seemed to come easy for the Albion offense after that, however, as Hope packed its defense around goalkeeper Nick Schanhals. Albion found little room to operate in the middle of the field.

Meanwhile, Rocco Mularoni and Gino Battaglia produced a goal and an assist each as Hope went on a five-goal binge. The Flying Dutchmen led, 6-3, on Mularoni's strike a minute into the second quarter.

A Lebioda goal stopped the Hope run, making the score 6-4 midway through the second quarter.

The teams traded two-goal runs, and Hope's Grant Brogan scored a man-up goal in the final minute of the quarter to boost the Hope lead to 9-6 at halftime.

Brogan added two more goals as part of a four-goal binge as Hope extended the lead to 13-6 with 10:15 left in regulation.

Albion never quit, getting goals by Nickolis Antenucci, Palmer and Lebioda to come within four, 13-8, with eight minutes left.

Albion had a couple of possessions to draw closer, but a shot by Antenucci sailed wide.

Max Kuiper completed Hope's scoring with six minutes to play.

Lebioda finished with a season-high four goals, Alec Palmer added three goals and Harrison Palmer tacked on two goals and an assist.

Albion (7-7 overall and 5-1 against MIAA rivals) will complete the regular season with a Friday night contest at Adrian College.