FREELAND, Mich. – The Trine University women's lacrosse team has been selected to finish seventh during the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) season by the association head coaches in this year's preseason poll.
The Thunder received votes totaling 15 points to finish in the seventh spot in the poll. The point totals are determined by votes cast by the league's coaches, who cannot vote for their own team. Albion College was selected to finish first with 45 points and four of the first-place votes. Hope College comes in at second with 40 points and two first-place votes and Calvin University came in third with 39 points and the final first-place vote.
Last season Trine finished seventh in the MIAA with a 2-6 record. Overall they finished the season 6-10. Despite the seventh-place finishes, the Thunder have reason to be hopeful for the upcoming season as they return multiple crucial contributors.
Headlining the group is last season's leading scorer Kristin John (South Bend, Ind. / St. Joe's) who returns for her junior season. John finished last season with 67 points including 54 goals and 13 assists, all team-highs. The season was a historic one for John as her totals gave her four-season records for the program. She also sits in second with 113 points and 92 goals on the career charts after just her second season.
Also returning is the team's lone representative on the MIAA all-conference teams. Sophomore Mia Schlueter (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) was selected to the second team last season following a great year of defensive play.
All told the Thunder return four of their top-five point scorers from last season. In addition to John, junior Kristen Nguyen (Locust Grove, Ga. / Luella) who finished third on the team with 20 points, senior Lilly Dusek (Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville) who finished fourth with 18 points and sophomore Peri Darmofal (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) who finished with 14 points all return.
In net, the team returns Emily Morthorst (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) who played the entire season a year ago.
The Thunder begin their season when they travel to face Ohio Northern University on Wednesday, Feb. 26 with opening draw control scheduled for 7 p.m.