by Eva Dean Folkert

In a season in which it equaled the most wins in program history, the Hope College women's lacrosse team also saw three of its players land on the All-MIAA First Team, also a program best.

Seniors Rachel Elder, Caroline Milholland and Paige Wilmer were selected by leagues coaches as first-team honorees while Madison Micho was named to the All-MIAA Second Team. This is the second All-MIAA distinction for Wilmer and the first for Elder, Milholland and Micho.

Hope's All-MIAA First Team Honorees

Hope ended the 2021 season with an 11-3 overall record while advancing to MIAA Tournament Championship game, finishing runner-up to Saint Mary's College.

Elder, an attacker and business and communication double major from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS), scored 29 goals and contributed 15 assists for the Flying Dutch this season. She was second on the team with a 56.9% shooting percentage.

"Rachel is a fantastic attacker who plays with so much passion," said head coach Keagan Pontious. "She is very good at driving one-on-one to cage and playing fast, which allowed us to score many fast break goals this season. Around the cage, she was one of our best goal scores and finishers."

Defender Milholland, an exercise science major from Midland, Michigan (H.H. Dow HS), gathered in 24 groundballs this spring along with causing 17 turnovers.

"Caroline is our ground ball and transition queen," Pontious said. "Her ability to pick up ground balls in the defensive end and safely get it up the field was unreal. She is a great defender and leader who recognized how we could improve as a defensive unit."

Wilmer, a midfielder and nursing major from Columbus, Ohio (Upper Arlington HS), led the Flying Dutch is several statistical categories. She was first in groundballs (45), draw controls (79), caused turnovers (27), and total points (51). She also was second in scoring with 40 goals with a 56.3% shooting percentage while adding 11 assists. 

"Paige's ability to track the ball of the draw and run the midfield kept us in many games," explained Pontious. "She was a threat on attack through our fast-break transition and settled offense. Paige's midfield vision and creativity on the field allowed us to be successful this season."

Midfielder Micho, a mechanical engineering major from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS), scored 21 goals on a team- leading 58.3% shooting percentage while adding 13 assists. She was third for the Flying Dutch in draw controls (38) and ground balls (26).

"Madison is one of our most driven players," Pontious said. "She is determined to compete every day, which allowed us to stay in many games. As a midfielder, she played amazing defense and then would play a large role on attack as one of our best one-on-one drivers. She is a bulldog in the midfield."