2024 Women's Soccer Season Preview

The Hope College women's soccer team has made swift progress during fall camp under first-year head coach Holly Van Noord.

The Flying Dutch enjoyed a leg up on preparations for the 2024 season because Van Noord spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach for retired head coach Leigh Sears.

"They know me and we've built strong relationships," Van Noord said. "Already building that trust helps a lot, too."

In June, Van Noord, a record-setter goalkeeper at Liberty University and Hudsonville Unity Christian High School, was named the Flying Dutch's seventh head women's soccer coach.

Sears — Hope's most successful women's soccer coach with 270 victories and six MIAA titles — moved into a full-time role as a faculty member with the college's kinesiology department.

Van Noord spent the past six spring soccer seasons as the Hudsonville High School girls soccer coach. Hudsonville posted an 83-22-16 overall record (.752) during Van Noord's tenure and was the MHSAA Division 1 state runner-up in 2023.

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Holly Van Noord, first season
Associate head coach: Elliot Slenk
Assistant coach: Leigh Sears

As a student-athlete, Van Noord was a Liberty women's soccer team member from 2012 to 2016 and became the Flames' first Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2014, 2016). Van Noord set a Big South Conference record with 34 career shutouts.

In high school, Van Noord established state records with 75 career shutouts for Unity Christian and 24 single-season shutouts in 2011. Van Noord led the Crusaders to three MHSAA Division 3 state titles and one Division 3 state runner-up finish.

Van Noord holds a master's degree in teaching and a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Liberty.

2024 Roster

The Flying Dutch's roster of 28 features five seniors, 11 juniors, eight sophomores and four freshmen.

Hope returns two All-MIAA First Team selections: senior forward Carley Wagasky (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven HS) and junior forward Ainsley Harris (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian).

Wagasky topped the Flying Dutch in scoring with nine points and 19 points in 18 games. She shares captain duties with senior defender Gabby Chabala (Canton, Michigan / Dearborn Divine Child) and junior defender MEga McCauley (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Rockford).

Harris led Hope with six assists and tied for second with four goals in 18 games.

Senior forward Margaret Owsiany (Westerville, Ohio / Westerville Central) scored four goals in nine games.

Wagasky and Harris are among five returning players who played in all 18 games last season. The others are junior midfielder Liz Bellinger (Williamston, Michigan / Williamston), junior midfielder Lauren Ellinger (Fishers, Indiana / Hamilton Southeastern), and sophomore goalkeeper Clara Feenstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville).

Feenstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) was an All-MIAA Second Team honoree in 2023.

The Flying Dutch have added three transfers: senior goalkeeper Kendall Roberston (Jerome, Michigan / Western), junior defender Grace Fowler (Cumming, Georgia / Pinecrest Academy), and sophomore forward Kayla Cannon (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian).

"They're super hungry to work and get after the season," Van Noord said. "Work ethic is going to be a huge part of it. I like to demand a lot out of their positions. The players are going to get the opportunity to show what they are gifted in. I'm excited to start from a fresh slate and pretend I don't know them. That's the nice thing about preseason. They've been building a lot of the foundations. I'm excited to put it to the test and play some good competition right away."

2024 Schedule

The Flying Dutch kick off the season on Friday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. at Centre College (Kentucky). The two teams tied, 1-1, last season in their inaugural meeting at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Hope's home opener is Monday, Sept. 2, at 1 p.m. against Carleton College (Minnesota), which has competed in the NCAA Division III Tournament the past two seasons.

The Flying Dutch will play seven more home games, including the team poster giveaway on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m. against Illinois Tech.

Hope's first MIAA game is Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m. at The University of Olivet.

The Flying Dutch, who finished second in the MIAA Preseason Women's Coaches Poll, will host preseason favorite and 15th-ranked Calvin University on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.

"We're going to have a wide variety of competition," Van Noord said. "I'm excited about our games because we can focus on what we want to accomplish no matter who we're facing. That's how I like to coach: focus on our identity and build upon that. It will be fun to see them get put to the test."

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Players Mentioned

#19 Liz Bellinger: M; 5' 4"; Junior; Physical Education/Health

#21 Gabby Chabala: D; 5' 6"; Senior; Exercise Science

#9 Lauren Ellinger: M; 5' 4"; Junior; Political Science

#1 Clara Feenstra: GK; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#22 Ainsley Harris: F; 5' 5"; Junior; Physical and Health Education and Secondary Education

#3 Margaret Owsiany: F; 5' 5"; Senior; Business

#5 Carley Wagasky: F; 5' 6"; Senior; Chemistry

#26 Kayla Cannon: F; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#4 Grace Fowler: D; 5' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#19 Liz Bellinger
: 5' 4"; Junior; Physical Education/Health
: M

#21 Gabby Chabala
: 5' 6"; Senior; Exercise Science
: D

#9 Lauren Ellinger
: 5' 4"; Junior; Political Science
: M

#1 Clara Feenstra
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: GK

#22 Ainsley Harris
: 5' 5"; Junior; Physical and Health Education and Secondary Education
: F

#3 Margaret Owsiany
: 5' 5"; Senior; Business
: F

#5 Carley Wagasky
: 5' 6"; Senior; Chemistry
: F

#26 Kayla Cannon
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#4 Grace Fowler
: 5' 2"; Junior
: D