FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- In a preseason poll of seven Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) men's lacrosse coaches, Hope College was selected to finish first in the league after receiving all six possible first-place votes and a total of 36 points.
Albion College claims the runner-up spot with the remaining first-place vote and 30 points. Calvin University rounds out the top three with 27 points, followed by Adrian College in fourth place with 21 points. Kalamazoo College landed in fifth place after earning 15 points. Trine University (12 points) and Alma College (6 points) are predicted to finish in sixth and seventh, respectively.
HOPE COLLEGE
The Flying Dutchmen are coming off of a dominant 2024 season, finishing undefeated in conference play (6-0) and 14-4 overall. Guided by the IMLCA Region 5 Coaching Staff of the Year, Hope reached the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Sophomore attacker/midfielder Gibson Heethuis, the 2024 MIAA Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-MIAA honoree, leads the charge alongside junior midfielder Jackson Early, a 2024 First Team All-MIAA selection and IMLCA All-Region Honorable Mention.
Other key returners include senior long-stick midfielder Luke Wierengo, a two-time All-MIAA honoree and IMLCA Second Team All-Region pick, and senior midfielder Owen Mueller, who earned First Team All-MIAA honors in 2024. Senior face-off specialist Caden Brainard, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, will play a crucial role in controlling possessions, while junior goalie Jack Balmforth, a 2024 First Team All-MIAA and IMLCA Second Team All-Region selection, anchors the defense. Senior attacker Sam Bowen, a 2024 Second Team All-MIAA honoree, will add tremendous power to an already potent offense.
ALBION COLLEGE
Albion, the 2024 runner-up, posted a 5-1 conference record (8-11 overall) last year. The Britons return junior midfielder Cal Stearns, a two-time All-MIAA honoree and IMLCA Second Team All-Region selection. Joining him is junior defender Logan Bride, who earned 2024 Second Team All-MIAA honors. Together, they form the core of a team looking to challenge Hope at the top of the conference.
CALVIN UNIVERSITY
The Knights round out the top three after finishing 4-2 in the MIAA and 12-6 overall in 2024. Senior midfielder Christian Coler, a 2024 First Team All-MIAA honoree, leads the Knights alongside junior attacker David Blackmon, a 2024 Second Team All-MIAA selection. The team also features senior midfielder Thomas Smith and senior defender Josh Gage, both two-time All-MIAA honorees, who bring experience and leadership as Calvin aims to contend for the conference title.
ADRIAN COLLEGE
Adrian finished its 2024 campaign with a 3-3 MIAA record and an overall record of 8-8. Senior attacker Michael Jonas, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, and senior defender Cameron Reed, a three-time All-MIAA honoree, are key players for the Bulldogs. Senior midfielder Riley Edwards and senior Brandon Hoerauf, both 2024 Second Team All-MIAA selections, add depth to the lineup. Goalie Sam Spangler, a senior and three-time All-MIAA honoree, will be pivotal in the net this season.
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE
The Hornets posted a 2-4 MIAA record and an overall record of 5-8 in 2024. Junior defender and long-stick midfielder Jack Bungart, a 2024 Second Team All-MIAA selection, is expected to anchor the Kalamazoo squad.
TRINE UNIVERSITY
Trine had a 1-5 conference record and went 7-10 overall last year. The Thunder will return ten seniors and one graduate student while adding sixteen freshmen to the roster, setting the stage for potential growth in 2025.
ALMA COLLEGE
Alma finished 0-6 in the MIAA and 1-12 overall in 2024. The Scots return a quartet of seniors and bring in three freshmen as they focus on climbing the standings in 2025.
REGULAR-SEASON AND POSTSEASON PREVIEW
The first contest between MIAA teams is slated for Wednesday, March 26, with Alma hosting Calvin at 7:00 p.m.
The MIAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament has been expanded from four to six teams, beginning in 2025. The first round will be held on Saturday, April 26, with the semifinals on Tuesday, April 29, followed by the championship contest on Friday, May 2. The winner will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship which will begin May 7.
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Points
|
First-Place Votes
|
| 1. |
Hope |
36 |
6 |
| 2. |
Albion |
30 |
1 |
| 3. |
Calvin |
27 |
0 |
| 4. |
Adrian |
21 |
0 |
| 5. |
Kalamazoo |
15 |
0 |
| 6. |
Trine |
12 |
0 |
| 7. |
Alma |
6 |
0 |
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
