FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced its 2026 Women’s Lacrosse All-MIAA award recipients, recognizing the conference’s top performers following an exciting regular season. Hope College’s Julia Brown has been named the Most Valuable Offensive Player, teammate Caroline Curnutt earned Most Valuable Defensive Player honors, and Trine University’s Erin Fariello was selected as Rookie of the Year.
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Julia Brown, Hope
Hope senior attacker Julia Brown has been named the MIAA Most Valuable Offensive Player for the second time in her career, adding to her 2024 honor. A co-captain for the Flying Dutch, Brown has been a cornerstone of Hope’s success throughout her career, earning four First Team All-MIAA selections, three IWLCA Great Lakes All-Region honors, and the 2023 MIAA Rookie of the Year award.
This season, Brown became the first player in program history to surpass 200 career goals, further cementing her place among the program’s all-time greats. She helped lead Hope to a share of the regular-season championship with a 6-1 conference record and the top seed in the 2026 MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.
Brown finished the regular season as the league leader with 28 goals, averaging 4.00 per game, and ranked second with 39 points at 5.57 per game. Her scoring ability and leadership have been instrumental in Hope’s success entering the postseason.
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Caroline Curnutt, Hope
Hope senior defender Caroline Curnutt has been named the MIAA Most Valuable Defensive Player after anchoring one of the conference’s top defensive units. A co-captain alongside Brown, Curnutt is a four-time All-MIAA honoree, including three First Team selections, and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team in 2024.
Curnutt helped guide the Flying Dutch to a share of the regular-season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament, leading a defense that allowed a league-low 57 goals during conference play. She also contributed 30 draw controls, averaging 4.29 per game, showcasing her impact beyond the defensive end.
Her leadership, consistency, and ability to disrupt opposing offenses were key factors in Hope’s championship-caliber season.
Rookie of the Year: Erin Fariello, Trine
Trine freshman midfielder Erin Fariello has been named the MIAA Rookie of the Year after an impressive debut season. Fariello helped the Thunder to a 3-4 conference record and the No. 5 seed in the MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament, making an immediate impact across multiple facets of the game.
She ranked among the conference’s top ten in draw controls with 29, averaging 4.14 per game, and in ground balls with 19 at 2.71 per game. Offensively, Fariello totaled 17 goals, 20 points, and 38 shots, averaging 2.43 goals, 2.86 points, and 5.43 shots per game.
Her all-around contributions and consistent production highlight a promising future for the Thunder program.
2026 Women's Lacrosse All-MIAA Honorees
Most Valuable Offensive Player:
Julia Brown, Hope (2)
Most Valuable Defensive Player:
Caroline Curnutt, Hope
Rookie of the Year:
Erin Fariello, Trine
2026 All-MIAA First Team
A - Morgan Bethard, Calvin (3)
A - Audrey Booher, Calvin (3)
A - Julia Brown, Hope (4)
A - Madeline Turcotte, Adrian (2)
M - Jenna Allie, Adrian
M - Stella Bottum, Hope (2)
M - Megan Gibbs, Calvin
M - Caleigh Randall, Hope (4)
M - Ella Spooner, Kalamazoo (3)
D - Caroline Curnutt, Hope (4)
D - Ava Lazzareschi, Adrian
D - Natalie Scott, Calvin (2)
GK - Hannah Rizzo, Calvin (2)
2026 All-MIAA Second Team
A - Tessa Fuller, Kalamazoo (3)
A - Delaney Johnson, Calvin
A - Kacie Woodall, Adrian
M - Ireland Brown, Hope
M - Izabelle Dominski, Trine (2)
M - Sophie Hartl, Kalamazoo
M - Kennedy Hynde, Kalamazoo
M - Abby Malone, Adrian
M - Corrine Plumb, Calvin
D - Jillian Paul, Hope
D - Claire Schmaltz, Trine
D - Annslee Ware, Kalamazoo
GK - Kaya Seaboy, Saint Mary's