The Hope College men's lacrosse team looks this spring to build on a successful debut varsity season in 2013.

Coach Michael Schanhals returns to lead the Flying Dutchmen, who have a roster of 26 players, including 15 returning letterwinners. There are seven seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and nine freshmen.

Co-captains this season are junior Matt Hemenway of Ionia (Ionia HS), junior midfielder Nicklas Raycraft of Brighton (Detroit Catholic Central HS) and senior midfielder Michael Schofield of Mendham, N.J. (Mendham HS).

The Flying Dutchmen are coming off an 8-5 campaign that featured a fourth-place finish in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular-season standings and the inaugural MIAA Tournament.

Hope was picked fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Senior Jacob Kamstra of Zeeland (Zeeland East) is one of Hope's top returners. He earned All-MIAA First Team honors last season. He finished second on the team with 48 points, tied for team lead with 22 assists and tied for second with 26 goals.

Two of his teammates who claimed All-MIAA Second Team recognition last season are back: senior midfielder Niko Pagkanlungan of Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier HS), and Schofield. Pagkanlungan was fourth on the team with 39 points and tied for first with 22 assists. Schofield, a faceoff specialist, topped Hope with 122 groundballs.

The Flying Dutchmen open their season with two road games on the same weekend: Friday, March 7, at Denison (Ohio) and Saturday, March 8, at DePauw (Ind).

Hope's home opener is Saturday, March 29, against Dubuque, Iowa. MIAA play starts on Wednesday, April 2, against Alma College.

Lacrosse has a long tradition at Hope that includes 39 years as a club sport.