Women’s Lacrosse Chosen as Preseason Favorite in MIAA Coaches Poll
The Hope College women’s lacrosse team topped the 2022 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Flying Dutch received five of seven possible first-place votes and finished with 44 points.
Hope finished five points ahead of second-place Saint Mary’s College, which won the MIAA Tournament championship game last season. Saint Mary’s claimed the other two first-place votes. Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Albion College was third with 38 points.
Led by head coach Keagan Pontious, Hope returns 10 student-athletes from a group that went 11-3 last season and was edged by Saint Mary’s, 14-13, in the MIAA Tournament final.
Three seniors are among the returners, including All-MIAA midfielder Madison Micho (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids HS), who finished fifth in the league with a .583 shooting percentage.
Senior attacker Sophie Ackerman (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) is the Flying Dutch’s third-leading returning scorer with 45 points on 22 goals and a team-record 23 assists last season.
Senior attacker Madison McCreery (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) scored 11 goals and registered 12 assists last season.
Hope’s leading goal scorer is back as well. Sophomore attacker Elena Salazar (Howell, Michigan / Hartland) netted 44 goals last season, the third-highest individual total in team history.
The Flying Dutch’s first game is Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. vs. Siena Heights University at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.