NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse First-Round Preview

Pictured from left, Elena Salazar and Julia Brown

The Hope College women's lacrosse team will face Denison University (Ohio) today at 1 p.m. Central in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Championships at the University of Chicago. The winner advances to play host Chicago on Saturday, May 13, at 1 p.m. Central.

It's been a historic season for the Flying Dutch — 10 years in the making. Hope is making its first appearance in the NCAA Championships since the Flying Dutchmen transitioned from a club program to the Division III level in 2013. The game against Denison will be the 157th as an NCAA program. Hope's all-time record is 88-68.

The Flying Dutch clinched the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships by winning two games in the MIAA Tournament — 21-11 in the semifinals at home against fourth-seeded Calvin University and 18-13 in the finals at home against third-seeded Saint Mary's College.

Head coach Keegan Pontious has been the architect of Hope's run of unprecedented success. In her fourth season, Pontious has led the Flying Dutch to a 35-17 overall record. Pontious is no stranger to success on the lacrosse field. As a student-athletes, Pontious former NCAA Division II Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse All-American at Seton Hill University (Pennsylvania). Pontious made the IWLCA's All-America third team as a senior in 2019 after scoring 58 goals as an attacker and helping Seton Hill advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time.

The Flying Dutch's 12 wins this season are a program record for a single season. Hope previously won 11 games in both 2021 and 2019. The Flying Dutch also won 10 games in 2022.

This is Hope's second all-time meeting against Denison. They last met during the Flying Dutch's inaugural NCAA season in 2013, with Denison winning, 17-1, in Granville, Ohio, in Hope's fifth all-time game. Four days later, Hope recorded its first victory with a 22-1 victory against visiting Loras College (Iowa).

This season, the Flying Dutch are riding a program-best, nine-game winning streak. The current run began on April 7 with a 17-5 victory in the MIAA opener at Saint Mary's College (Ind.). Hope has outscored opponents by a 148-67 margin over those nine games. The Flying Dutch have scored at least 16 goals in every game during the winning streak.

Eight members of the Flying Dutch earned All-MIAA honors, including five first-team selections in Julia Brown, Molly Frederickson, Delaney Kirinovic, Caleigh Randall, Elena Salazar. Three were second-team recipients Caroline Curnutt, Juli Kirkpatrick and Maddie Yakes.

Julia Brown has made an immediate impact as a freshman. The attacker and the MIAA Rookie of the Year leads the Flying Dutch in goals with 50 and points with a school-record 75. Brown is Hope's fourth 50-goal single-season scorer. She trails teammate Elena Salazar, who holds the school record with 57.

Junior attacker Elena Salazar became the Flying Dutch's all-time leading scorer this season. The two-time All-MIAA First Team selection has 45 goals this season and 146 for her career. Salazar has 25 more goals than second-place Carly Pieri (125 from 2018-21).

Senior defender Delaney Kirinovic was named the MIAA's Defensive Player of the Year this season. She anchored a Hope defense that allowed only 43 goals in seven regular-season MIAA games.

Junior goalkeeper Maddie Yakes needs four saves to become Hope's career leader. The All-MIAA second-team honoree had 333 career saves, trailing only Laurel Frederickson's 333 from 2018-21.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Molly Frederickson: M; Junior; Physical And Health Education

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

#9 Juli Kirkpatrick: M; Sophomore; Exercise Science

#5 Elena Salazar: A; Junior; Exercise Science

#29 Maddie Yakes: GK; Junior; Neuroscience

#32 Julia Brown: A; Freshman; Sociology-Criminal Justice, Psychology

#7 Caroline Curnutt: M; Freshman; Elementary Education: PreK-3, 3-6

#23 Caleigh Randall: M; Freshman; Elementary Education: PreK-3, 3-6

Players Mentioned

#21 Molly Frederickson
: Junior; Physical And Health Education
: M

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

#9 Juli Kirkpatrick
: Sophomore; Exercise Science
: M

#5 Elena Salazar
: Junior; Exercise Science
: A

#29 Maddie Yakes
: Junior; Neuroscience
: GK

#32 Julia Brown
: Freshman; Sociology-Criminal Justice, Psychology
: A

#7 Caroline Curnutt
: Freshman; Elementary Education: PreK-3, 3-6
: M

#23 Caleigh Randall
: Freshman; Elementary Education: PreK-3, 3-6
: M