The Hope College women’s soccer team is projected to finish third in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in the league’s preseason coaches poll.

MIAA coaches chose reigning league champion Calvin College as the 2013 preseason favorite. The Knights received seven of eight possible first-place votes. Alma College and Saint Mary’s College received the other first-place votes. Coaches could not vote for their own teams.

Coach Leigh Sears’ Flying Dutch totaled 25 points in the poll, trailing Calvin (nine) and second-place Alma (18). Saint Mary’s College (28), Adrian College (31), Kalamazoo College (43), Olivet College (52), Trine University (58) and Albion College (60) rounded out the poll.

MIAA teams will begin non-conference action Friday, Aug. 30, with the first league games set for Monday, Sept. 9.

Hope kicks off the 2013 season with two non-league games in Ohio — Aug. 30 at Denison at 4:30 p.m. and Aug. 31 at Kenyon at 2 p.m.

The Flying Dutch’s home opener is Friday, September 6 against Elmhurst (Ill.) at 7 p.m. at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Click here to read a preseason outlook for the Flying Dutch in women’s soccer. 

Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Calvin (7) 9 pts. 2. Alma (1) 18. 3. Hope 25. 4. Saint Mary’s (1) 28. 5. Adrian 31. 6. Kalamazoo 43. 7. Olivet 52. 8. Trine 58. 9. Albion 60.