2024 Hope College Women's Lacrosse Season Preview

Pictured, from left, sophomores Julia Brown and Caleigh Randall

The Hope College women's lacrosse team is looking to enjoy the ride as the Flying Dutch return to the field after a history-making season.

Hope returns with a lot of experience after sweeping MIAA play during the 2023 season en route to claiming the program's first MIAA regular season and tournament championship, as well as its first appearance in the NCAA Division III Championships.

The Flying Dutch finished with a 12-6 overall record, including a 7-0 mark against MIAA opponents during the regular season and a 2-0 record in the league tournament.

Head coach Keagan Pontious said a deep roster will be key in Hope's quest to repeat.

"We trust every single kid on the field this year, and I think that's really cool," Pontious said. "I think every one of them is adding value in their own way."

2024 Roster

The Flying Dutch's roster of 20 features 17 returners and three newcomers. There are two freshmen, nine sophomores, four juniors, and five seniors.

Seven of Hope's eight 2023 All-MIAA selections return, highlighted by last season's MIAA Rookie of the Year, sophomore attacker Julia Brown (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central HS).

Senior midfielder Molly Frederickson (Alto, Michigan / Lowell), senior attacker Elena Salazar (Howell, Michigan / Hartland), and sophomore midfielder Caleigh Randall (Lansing, Michigan / DeWitt) join Brown as returning All-MIAA First-Team selections.

Brown topped Hope with 54 goals last season, the second-most in team history. Salazar set the record with 57 during the 2022 season.

Salazar became the Flying Dutch's all-time leading scorer and the first to reach 150 goals in program history.

Randall led Hope with 105 draw controls and 38 ground balls.

Sophomore midfielder Caroline Curnutt (Fishers, Indiana / Heritage Christian), junior attacker Juli Kirkpatrick (Granger, Indiana / Penn) and senior goalie Maddie Yakes (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) return as 2023 All-MIAA Second-Team selections.

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Keagan Pontious, 5th season
Assistant coaches: Rich Pruszynski

2024 Schedule

Hope opens the season on Saturday, Feb. 24, at noon on home turf at the Van Andel Soccer Stadium as the Flying Dutch host Capital University (Ohio).

The Flying Dutch's eight-game preseason slate features many regionally-ranked teams from last season, including DePauw University, the University of Chicago and George Fox University.

Hope opens up MIAA play at home against Alma College on Wednesday, April 3.

MIAA Preseason Poll

The Flying Dutch are unanimous favorites in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll after receiving all seven possible first-place votes and totaling 49 points. Coaches could not vote for their own team.

Coach's Outlook

"Our non-conference schedule is teams that are ranked, and that is going to help us prepare for the conference season. We're playing tougher teams than we did last year," Pontious said. "Our vision this year is to just enjoy it. We want to be joyful with everything that we do, win or lose, and I think that is going to help us focus on the process more. I think every single year is different in a great way, and it gives us unique circumstances and opportunities."

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Players Mentioned

#32 Julia Brown: A; Sophomore; Psychology

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

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

#9 Juli Kirkpatrick: A; Junior; Exercise Science

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

#5 Elena Salazar: A; Senior; Exercise Science

#29 Maddie Yakes: GK; Senior; Neuroscience

Players Mentioned

#32 Julia Brown
: Sophomore; Psychology
: A

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

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

#9 Juli Kirkpatrick
: Junior; Exercise Science
: A

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

#5 Elena Salazar
: Senior; Exercise Science
: A

#29 Maddie Yakes
: Senior; Neuroscience
: GK