Hope's Elena Salazar
The Hope College women’s lacrosse team is projected to challenge for an MIAA regular-season championship this spring.
Led by head coach Keagan Pontious, the Flying Dutch finished runner-up in the 2023 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll with 39 points.
Hope, which received a league-best three first-place votes, trailed preseason favorite Trine University Trine claimed 40 points and one first-place vote.
Saint Mary’s College and Albion College both garnered two first-place votes apiece. In total points, Trine and Hope placed ahead of Saint Mary’s (36), Albion (35), Calvin University (28), Alma College (19), Kalamazoo College (17), and Adrian College (10). Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
Led by head coach Keagan Pontious, the Flying Dutch return 13 letterwinners on their roster of 21. Two of those veterans received All-MIAA First Team honors last season: senior defender Delaney Kirinovic (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt HS) and junior attacker Elena Salazar (Howell, Michigan / Hartland).
Kirinovic collected 30 ground balls and caused 12 turnovers in 17 games last season. Salazar produced a school-record 57 goals, including 30 during MIAA play.
Hope finished last season with a 10-7 overall record.
The Flying Dutch tied for second in the MIAA regular-season standings with a 5-2 league record and lost in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament to Saint Mary’s.
Hope’s season opener is Saturday, Feb. 18, at noon at Siena Heights University.
The Flying Dutch’s league opener is Friday, April 7, at 4 p.m. at Saint Mary’s.
The 2023 MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament will begin with the semifinals on Wednesday, May 3, followed by the championship contest on Saturday, May 6. The winner will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship which will begin May 13-14.
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