The 2003 Hope women's soccer team will be trying to build on one of their most successful seasons in history when they become the first of the college fall sports teams to see action.
The 2003 Hope women's soccer team will be trying to build on one of their most successful seasons in history when they become the first of the college fall sports teams to see action.
The Flying Dutch will host Siena Heights on Friday, August 29 (4 p.m.) for the first of three non-league contests preceding conference play.
A year ago the Flying Dutch finished second in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) standings winning a school-record 11 conference games and posting an overall 12-7-1 record. It was a season of contrast. After losing five of their first six games, the Flying Dutch went 11-2-1 the rest of the way.
Coaching the Flying Dutch this fall on a one-year assignment will be Lindsey Odell Engelsman, an All-MIAA player at Hope and an assistant coach since 2001. Head coach Leigh Sears is on an academic leave of absence to pursue graduate studies.
The roster of 25 players includes 16 returning letterwinners. There are nine freshmen, 10 sophomores, four juniors and two seniors.
Tri-captains of the team are junior Dawn Gillam of Portage, Mich. (Portage Northern HS), senior Catie Neidlinger of Marshall, Mich. (Marshall HS), and sophomore Tess Scholz of Portage (Portage Northern HS).
This year's team includes three players who achieved All-MIAA honors in 2002. Dawn Gillam was voted to the first team while Tess Scholz and sophomore Erica Pagorek of Munster, Ind. (Andrean HS) achieved second team recognition. Scholz was also voted to the All-Region team.
0 Other returning letterwinners include junior Laurel Albonico of Spring Lake, Mich. (Spring Lake HS), junior Stephanie Bylsma of Hudsonville, Mich. (Hudsonville HS), sophomore Marie DePetris of Troy, Mich. (Troy Athens HS), sophomore Leah DeWitt of Holland, Mich. (Holland Christian HS), sophomore Stefanie Haba of Clarkston, Mich. (Marian HS), senior Lauren Hinkle of Indianapolis, Ind. (North Central HS), junior Katie Hughes of Paw Paw, Mich. (Paw Paw HS), sophomore Linnae Klompmaker of Holland, Mich. (Holland Christian HS), sophomore Stephanie Koenke of Troy, Mich. (Troy Athens HS), sophomore Negeen Masghati of Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central HS), sophomore Lauren Stieper of Dearborn, Mich. (Dearborn HS), and sophomore Emily Tyler of Rochester, Mich. (Rochester Adams HS).
Three returning players received MIAA Player-of-the-Week honors in 2002 -- Dawn Gillam, Emily Tyler and Erica Pagorek.
The league season begins Saturday, Sept. 13 at home against rival Calvin. New to the schedule is future MIAA opponent Tri-State, Ind.