HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – The Trine University women's lacrosse team was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) title in the 2023 preseason coaches poll.
In a crowded top of the board, the Thunder garnered 40 total points and one first-place vote. Hope College received the most first-place votes with three, but only 39 total points puts the Flying Dutch second in the poll. Saint Mary's College tallied 36 points and two first-place votes and Albion College was just behind at 35 points and registered the two remaining first-place votes.
Last season, Trine finished the regular season tied for second with Hope and Saint Mary's with matching 5-2 MIAA records. The Britons of Albion are the defending regular season champions, but the Thunder were able to defeat them in the MIAA Semifinal Round of the MIAA Tournament in 2022.
Kevin Cooke is beginning his second season as the head coach of the program, and has quickly turned the squad into a top contender in the MIAA. There were four All-MIAA recipients last season, two of which return to this year's squad: sophomore attack Calista Richmond and sophomore midfielder Brooke Hoag.
Richmond was named First Team All-MIAA and Rookie of the Year as a freshman. In conference games, the Portage, Michigan native led the MIAA in assists with 36 and was second in the league with 50 points. In just one season, Richmond has broken the school record for most career assists with 50 in total last season. Hoag was a major piece on offense and defense, with 28 goals scored, 34 groundballs and led the team with 69 draw controls and 19 caused turnovers. Hoag scored four goals and tallied eight draw controls in the MIAA Tournament win at Albion to highlight her 2022 season.
Josie Prince and Ella Dougherty are joined by newcomer to the program, Peri Darmofal as the team's senior class. Prince had 22 groundballs and 13 caused turnovers on defense for Trine last year, while Dougherty scored 22 goals in 16 games. Four make up the junior class, with Danielle Gargiulo, Nikki Hibler, Alyssa Keptner and Emily McKinley. Gargiulo converted 14-of-25 free position attempts, had 63 draw controls and 14 caused turnovers (second on the team in all categories). Six sophomores and five freshmen to round out a fairly balanced roster.
The 2023 season kicks off on Saturday, February 25 when the Thunder travel to Wittenberg University to face the Tigers at 1 p.m.