2023 Women's Lacrosse Preview

Junior Elena Salazar, pictured.

The Hope College women's lacrosse team returns to the field for the 2023 season with a gritty approach.

The Flying Dutch bring 13 letterwinners for the 2023 season, including two All-MIAA selections.

Hope posted a 10-7 overall record last season and 5-2 in MIAA play. The orange and blue were seeded at No. 3 for the league tournament, where they fell to the No. 2 seed Saint Mary's College, who went on to become the 2022 MIAA Tournament champions.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Keagan Pontious, fourth season
Assistant Coach: Rich Pruszynski

2023 Roster

Hope returns two All-MIAA First Team selections from last season to its roster of 21: senior Delaney Kirinovic and junior Elena Salazar.

Kirinovic was among the top three leaders for ground balls last season with 30.The senior from DeWitt, Michigan (DeWitt HS) also tallied 12 caused-turnovers.

Salazar, who was fourth in the MIAA in goals scored with a total of 30 league game-goals and 57 total goals last season is back in the lineup. The junior from Howell, Michigan (Hartland) led Hope in both goals and points (67).

Maddie Yakes (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) returns in net for the Flying Dutch after posting a 9-6 record in the 2022 season. The junior neuroscience major recorded a team-high 47 ground balls during the year, and caused 18 turnovers.

Kirsten Szost, a junior from Jenison, Michigan (Jenison International Academy) is back for another year with Hope College women's lacrosse after tallying 32 draw controls, 19 caused turnovers and had a .700 shot on goal percentage for the Flying Dutch.

Coach's Outlook

"I think one of our strengths this year is going to be our transition. We definitely like to play fast, and I think that's going to allow us to win some games — by making some quick plays. I've learned this team is going to be a lot grittier this year. Our freshmen have a lot of grit to them, and our upperclassmen are just stepping it up this year. I think that is going to make us tougher this year." — head coach Keagan Pontious

2023 Schedule

The Flying Dutch begin their 2023 season with four of their first five games on the road, with their home opener coming on Tuesday, March 7 at 4 p.m. against Aurora University. Hope will serve as host just three times for non-conference opponents.

The orange and blue travel to Saint Mary's College on Friday, April 7, for the start of MIAA league play at 4 p.m.

MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

The Hope College women's lacrosse team is projected to challenge for an MIAA regular-season championship this spring. 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, trailing 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.

By the Numbers

11

This is the 11th season for the Flying Dutch as a varsity women's lacrosse program. Hope started at the NCAA Division III level in 2013 and completed the past six full, completed seasons with a winning record. The Flying Dutch reached double-digit wins three times: 11 wins in 2021 and 2019 and 10 wins in 2022.

57

Elena Salazar set a Hope College women's lacrosse record last season with a career-high 57 goals. Salazar became the Flying Dutch's third single-season, 50 goal scorer, joining Carly Pieri (51 in 2019) and Maddie Ferguson (50 in 2013).

76

All-time wins for the Flying Dutch in 139 games for a .548 winning percentage. Hope is 43-23 in MIAA play for a .651 winning percentage.

100

Four different members of the Flying Dutch have achieved 100 career goals: Carly Pieri (125 goals, 49 games, 2018-21), Rachel Elder (104, 47 games, 2018-21), Madison Micho (101, 66 games, 2018-22), and Elena Salazar (101, 28 games, 2020-present).

255

The Flying Dutch totaled 255 goals last season — 45 more than their opponents. Hope also registered 116 assists — 32 more than their opponents.

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Players Mentioned

#19 Madison Micho: M; Senior

#12 Delaney Kirinovic: D; Senior; Public Accountig/Business

#5 Elena Salazar: A; Junior; Exercise Science

#29 Maddie Yakes: GK; Junior; Neuroscience

Players Mentioned

#19 Madison Micho
: Senior
: M

#12 Delaney Kirinovic
: Senior; Public Accountig/Business
: D

#5 Elena Salazar
: Junior; Exercise Science
: A

#29 Maddie Yakes
: Junior; Neuroscience
: GK