The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion women’s soccer team put two players on the All-MIAA First Team: forwards Nora Kirk and Elizabeth Perkins.
The Flying Dutch, who won the regular-season championship by four games and the league tournament, also put five players on the All-MIAA Second Team.
“I’m happy for the players who received recognition, but our goal all year has been TEAM over self and each of these players exhibited those characteristics,” Hope coach Leigh Sears said. “Individual awards are great and a nice honor, but we have such a great collective team that their ultimate goal to reach the national tournament was more important than what any one of them could do.”
Kirk shared the MIAA lead with nine goals in 15 league matches. She also recorded one assist and finished fourth in the league with 19 points. The senior from Maumee, Ohio (Notre Dame Academy) is All-MIAA for the first time.
Perkins tied for fourth in the MIAA with eight goals in 16 league matches. She collected two assists to finish fifth with 18 points.
The sophomore from Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Lansing Christian HS), is All-MIAA for the first time.
“Both of these players had fantastic years,” Sears said.
Hope’s second-team selections were senior forward Lindsey Bieri of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS), senior goalie Kat Dickson of Grayslake, Illinois (Grayslake Central HS), junior midfielder Kristin Hazlett of Bay Village, Ohio (Bay Village HS), senior midfielder Erin Jipping of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS), and defender Courtney Schmidt of Lowell, Michigan (Lowell HS).
“Lindsey Bieri has been a fantastic leader as well,” Sears said. “She has been a constant workhorse who is willing to play wherever needed to get the job done.
“Kat Dickson didn’t have to make a ton of saves; however, the ones she did, often made a difference in the big games,” Sears said. “Kat led the league in shutouts and goal against average.”
“Kristin Hazlett has become an anchor in our midfield,” Sears said. “She is a very skilled player who continues to get the job done game in and game out.”
“Erin Jipping’s speed is a problem for every team we face,” Sears said. “She has been a headache for other teams for four years and we will certainly miss her.”
“Courtney Schmidt has been one of the anchors of our defense for four years,” Sears said. “Together this year they only allowed six goals in all of conference. She has been a great leader both in the back as well as off the field.”
All four of Hope’s captains received All-MIAA recognition: Bieri, Jipping, Kirk and Schmidt.
“Their leadership and sacrifice speaks volumes to their character,” Sears said “Those four, along with the other five seniors have helped to create a team culture that Hope can be proud of.”