Men's Lacrosse Projected to Repeat as MIAA Champion

The Hope College men's lacrosse team is picked to repeat as MIAA regular-season champion this season.

The Flying Dutchmen are a unanimous favorite in the 2025 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll after claiming all six possible first-place votes. Coaches could not vote for their team.

With 36 points, Hope finished six points ahead of Albion College, which received the other first-place vote. Calvin University is third with 27 points and followed by Adrian College (21), Kalamazoo College (15), Trine University (12) and Alma College (6).

The Flying Dutchmen won their fourth MIAA regular-season title last spring with a 6-0 league record and went 14-4 overall after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championships.

Led by head coach Michael Schanhals, who's led the program since 2005, Hope returns several starters, including sophomore attacker/midfielder Gibson Heethuis (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville), the 2024 MIAA Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-MIAA honoree.

Other key returners include:

senior attacker Sam Bowen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern), a 2024 All-MIAA Second Team honoree;
senior face-off specialist Caden Brainard (Muskegon, Michigan / Reeths-Puffer), a two-time All-MIAA honoree;
senior midfielder Owen Mueller (Traverse City, Michigan / Saint Francis), who earned All-MIAA First Team honors in 2024;
senior long-stick midfielder Luke Wierengo (Northville, Michigan / Northville), a two-time All-MIAA honoree and IMLCA Second Team All-Region pick;
junior goalie Jack Balmforth (Livonia, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central), a 2024 All-MIAA First Team and IMLCA Second Team All-Region selection and;
junior midfielder Jackson Early (East Lansing, Michigan/ East Lansing), a 2024 All-MIAA First Team selection and IMLCA All-Region Honorable Mention.

Hope starts the season on Saturday, Feb. 8, at noon MST vs. Rhodes College in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The home opener is Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. vs. Elmhurst University (Illinois) at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

MIAA play begins on Wednesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. vs. Albion at home.

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Players Mentioned

#29 Jack Balmforth: G; 5' 11"; Junior; Business

#11 Sam Bowen: A; 5' 9"; Senior; Business

#3 Caden Brainard: FOGO; 5' 9"; Senior; Engineering

#31 Jackson Early: M; 6' 0"; Junior; Accounting - Public Acct

#12 Gibson Heethuis: A; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Biology

#45 Owen Mueller: M; 5' 10"; Senior; Accounting/Business Dbl Major

#7 Luke Wierengo: LSM; 6' 2"; Senior; Business

Players Mentioned

#29 Jack Balmforth
: 5' 11"; Junior; Business
: G

#11 Sam Bowen
: 5' 9"; Senior; Business
: A

#3 Caden Brainard
: 5' 9"; Senior; Engineering
: FOGO

#31 Jackson Early
: 6' 0"; Junior; Accounting - Public Acct
: M

#12 Gibson Heethuis
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Biology
: A

#45 Owen Mueller
: 5' 10"; Senior; Accounting/Business Dbl Major
: M

#7 Luke Wierengo
: 6' 2"; Senior; Business
: LSM