FREELAND, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) coaches have selected the Trine University women's lacrosse team to finish seventh 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. Hope College was selected first receiving 47 points and two first-place votes. Calvin University came in second with 42 points and three first-place votes and Albion College rounded out the top-three with 40 points and the remaining three first-place votes.
Last season was cut short before following the team's first win but before MIAA play could begin. In 2019, Trine finished seventh in the MIAA with a 2-6 record. Overall they finished the season 6-10.
The team returns multiple key returners from years past. Headlining the group is the 2019 season's leading scorer Kristin John (South Bend, Ind. / St. Joe's) who returns for her senior season. John finished 2019 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. Last season she finished second on the team with 18 goals. She also sits in second with 133 points and 110 goals on the career charts.
Another key offensive returner is junior Chloe Vruno (Geneva, Ill. / St. Francis) who led the team last season with 19 goals and 21 points.
Also returning is the team's lone representative on the 2019 MIAA all-conference teams, the last time the award was released. Sophomore Mia Schlueter (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) was selected to the second team that season following a great year of defensive play.
In net, senior Emily Morthorst (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) returns having started all seven games last season and finishing with 90 saves.
The Thunder will begin their season when they host Albion College on Saturday, Feb. 20. The game which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. is a non-conference contest between the two teams.
