Hope Voted No. 1 in 2025 MIAA Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

2/4/2025 11:00:00 AM

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- In a preseason poll of eight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) women's lacrosse coaches, Hope College was selected to defend the league title after receiving all seven possible first-place votes and a total of 49 points.

Trine University claims the runner-up spot with the remaining first-place vote and 40 points. Calvin University and Kalamazoo College are tied-for-third with 34 points each. Albion College landed in fifth place after earning 26 points. Adrian College (18 points) was selected to finish sixth, while Alma College (13 points) and Saint Mary's College (10 points) are predicted to finish in seventh and eighth, respectively.

HOPE COLLEGE

Hope had a dominant 7-0 conference record (13-5 overall) last season. The Flying Dutch secured the MIAA title and, with winning the league tournament, earned a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament opener, further solidifying their place as the team to beat.

Leading the charge is junior attacker Julia Brown, the 2024 MIAA Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, and an IWLCA First Team All-Region selection. She is joined by junior midfielders Caleigh Randall and Caroline Curnutt, both two-time All-MIAA honorees, who provide versatility and scoring ability. Defensively, senior Mia Skibins, a 2024 First Team All-MIAA honoree, anchors a unit looking to continue its dominance.

TRINE UNIVERSITY

The Thunder had a strong 2024 season, finishing 5-2 in the MIAA and 12-6 overall. The Thunder boast an experienced squad, highlighted by senior attacker Calista Richmond, a three-time All-MIAA honoree who currently leads the MIAA with 72 career assists in conference play. She is joined by senior midfielder Brooke Hoag and senior goalie Maddy Kasten, both two-time All-MIAA honorees, as well as graduate student midfielder Alyssa Keptner and sophomore defender Evalyn Bellotti, both 2024 Second Team All-MIAA selections. With veteran leadership and an offensive force in Richmond, Trine looks poised to put up a fight for the top spot.

CALVIN UNIVERSITY

Calvin finished 3-4 in the MIAA and 6-11 overall last season. The Knights return a trio of 2024 Second Team All-MIAA honorees: junior attacker Morgan Bethard, senior midfielder Meghan Chang, and junior midfielder Jacey Smith. With this talented core, Calvin aims to make a strong push in 2025.

KALAMAZOO COLLEGE

The Hornets had a breakout 2024 season with a finish 5-2 in the league and 10-4 overall. Sophomore attacker Tessa Fuller, the 2024 MIAA Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-MIAA selection, headlines the team alongside junior attacker Ella Spooner and sophomore defender Mackenzie Newhall, both of whom earned Second Team All-MIAA honors last season.

Kalamazoo welcomes new head coach Graison Ringlever, who played three seasons at Northern Michigan University under former Hornets coach Emilia Ward. Ringlever has since been involved in coaching and officiating within the Kalamazoo lacrosse community and looks to bring her expertise to the program.

ALBION COLLEGE

Albion finished 4-3 in the MIAA and 7-9 overall during the 2024 campaign. Senior midfielder Kyndall Lewis and junior goalie Nicole Miller, both 2024 Second Team All-MIAA honorees, will be crucial in the Britons' efforts to contend for a higher spot in the standings.

ADRIAN COLLEGE

The Bulldogs concluded the 2024 campaign with a 1-6 record in conference play and an overall record of 5-9 overall. Adrian returns an experienced core, featuring nine seniors and a graduate student, which could provide the leadership needed to make a push in the conference standings.

ALMA COLLEGE

Alma earned a 3-4 record in league competition and went 6-8 overall last season. Junior midfielder/defender Sarah Bollinger, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, is a key returner for the Scots. Alma enters the season still searching for a new head coach following Ashley Johnson’s departure after nine seasons at the helm.

SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE

The Belles round out the preseason poll after a challenging 2024 season that saw Saint Mary's finish 0-7 in the MIAA (1-13 overall). Senior midfielder Valentina Rubio, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, will be the leader for a team looking to climb the standings in 2025.

REGULAR-SEASON AND POSTSEASON PREVIEW
The first contests between MIAA teams are scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, with Trine hosting Adrian at 4:00 p.m., Saint Mary's hosting Albion at 7:00 p.m., and Kalamazoo hosting Alma at 7:30 p.m.

The MIAA Women'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 Wednesday, April 30, followed by the championship contest on Saturday, May 3. The winner will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship which will begin May 10.