FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced the 2026 MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll following a vote of the league’s eight head coaches.
Defending regular-season and tournament champion Hope College was selected as the preseason favorite, with Calvin University and Trine University rounding out the top three as the league prepares for the upcoming spring season.
1. Hope College – 49 points
Hope enters the 2026 season after a dominant 2025 campaign that included a perfect 7-0 MIAA record to claim its third-straight regular-season title and a 13-6 overall mark. The Flying Dutch also captured their third-consecutive MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament championship and competed in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.
Hope returns a veteran-laden roster highlighted by three-time First Team All-MIAA attacker Julia Brown, who enters her senior season as a former MIAA Offensive Most Valuable Player (2024) and MIAA Rookie of the Year (2023). Brown is also a three-time All-Region selection. Three-time First Team All-MIAA midfielder Caleigh Randall returns for her senior season after earning IWLCA All-Region Second Team honors in 2025. The Flying Dutch also bring back three-time All-MIAA defender Caroline Curnutt, along with All-MIAA Second Team selections Stella Bottum and Sydney LaPrairie.
Head coach Keagan Pieri begins her seventh season at the helm after receiving 2025 MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year honors.
2. Calvin University – 43 points
Calvin finished the 2025 season with a 5-2 MIAA record and a 12-6 overall mark.
The Knights return several key All-MIAA performers, led by senior attacker/midfielder Audrey Booher, who was voted the 2025 MIAA Most Valuable Offensive Player and earned First Team All-MIAA recognition. Senior defender Natalie Scott and junior goalkeeper Hannah Rizzo also return after earning spots on the 2025 All-MIAA First Team. Two-time All-MIAA attacker Morgan Bethard returns for her senior season following a Second Team selection last year.
3. Trine University – 36 points
Trine posted a 5-2 conference record and an 11-5 overall mark during the 2025 campaign.
The Thunder return sophomore midfielder Izabelle Dominski, who was named the 2025 MIAA Rookie of the Year and earned All-MIAA Second Team honors. Senior midfielder Elizabeth Larson also returns after a Second Team nod, while two-time All-MIAA defender Evalyn Bellotti is back for her junior season following a Second Team selection in 2025.
4. Adrian College – 31 points
Adrian finished the 2025 season with a 3-4 MIAA record and a 12-6 overall mark.
The Bulldogs return junior midfielder Madeline Turcotte, who earned All-MIAA Second Team honors last season. Other key returners include sophomore midfielder Abby Malone, sophomore goalkeeper Bella Norton, and sophomore midfielder Kacie Woodall.
5. Kalamazoo College – 25 points
Kalamazoo went 3-4 in conference play and 4-13 overall in 2025.
The Hornets return a pair of two-time All-MIAA attackers in Ella Spooner and Tessa Fuller, both of whom earned First Team recognition last season. Additional returning contributors include senior attacker Abbie Caza, junior defender Mackenzie Newhall, junior midfielder Julia Kozal, and junior midfielder Kennedy Hynde.
6. Albion College – 19 points
Albion finished the 2025 campaign with a 3-4 MIAA record and a 5-11 overall mark.
The Britons return sophomore midfielder Anna Huard after she earned All-MIAA Second Team honors during her first collegiate season. Two-time All-MIAA goalkeeper Nicole Miller also returns for her senior year following another Second Team selection. Senior attacker Logan Hutchinson and senior midfielder Ellen Chown round out Albion’s returning core.
7. Alma College – 13 points
Alma concluded the 2025 season with a 0-7 MIAA record and a 4-9 overall mark.
The Scots return three-time All-MIAA midfielder Sarah Bollinger for her senior season after earning Second Team recognition in 2025. Senior goalkeeper Alexis Norko also returns to the Alma roster.
The Scots welcome Addie Pastor as its new head coach. Pastor, an Albion alum, joins the program after spending the last four years as a head coach at Metro Detroit Lacrosse.
8. Saint Mary’s College – 8 points
Saint Mary’s finished the 2025 campaign with a 2-5 MIAA record and a 5-10 overall mark.
The Belles return a young core that includes junior attackers Rachel Speckhard and Lana Skibins, junior defender Sophia Delgado, sophomore midfielder Piper Downey, and sophomore goalkeeper Kaya Seaboy.
Up Ahead
Conference play begins on March 28 with Alma hosting Adrian. Full league action starts on April 1 with Trine hosting Albion, Kalamazoo hosting Adrian, Alma hosting Saint Mary’s, and Calvin hosting Hope.
?The MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament is scheduled for April 25 (first round), April 28 (semifinals), and May 1 (final), with the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Tournament set to begin May 9.