FREELAND, Mich. -- In a preseason poll of seven Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) men's lacrosse coaches, Hope was tabbed-for-first after receiving all six possible first-place votes.

Hope, the 2021 MIAA Tournament champion, tallied six points to finish ahead of Albion, who had 11 points and the remaining first-place vote.  Calvin was predicted to finish third with 16 points, followed by Trine in fourth with 21 points.  Alma (26 points) edged Kalamazoo (31 points) for the fifth spot, while Adrian rounded out the poll in seventh with 36 points.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

Hope (13-2 overall, 3-1 MIAA in 2021) returns 2021 MIAA Most Valuable Offensive Player and two-time All-MIAA attacker, Jack Radzille, along with 2021 MIAA Rookie of the Year, Michael Mann.  Radzille, who is entering his senior year, concluded 2021 with 104 points, 48 assists, 56 goals, 87 shots on goal, 138 shots, and a shooting percentage of .406.  Mann, a sophomore attacker, finished the season with 67 points, 68 shots on goal, a .680 shots on goal percentage, 40 ground balls, 42 goals, 25 assists, a .420 shooting percentage, and seven caused turnovers in starting all 15 games played.  The Flying Dutchmen will also feature six all-conference seniors, including 2021 First Team honorees Zach Wiggins (M) and Andrew Conlon (LSM), and two-time All-MIAA recipients Brayden Blackburn (LSM), Liam Cunningham (M), Cole Scheffler (FOGO), and Tucker Martinez (D).

Albion (13-2 overall) claimed the 2021 MIAA regular-season title after sweeping conference competition, 6-0.  Joey Tatar, the 2021 MIAA Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-MIAA recipient, will headline the Briton roster.  Tatar concluded 2021 as the leader in caused turnovers with 55 overall (21 in MIAA contests).  He also totaled 45 ground balls, eight shots on goal, an .800 shots on goal percentage, and started all 15 games played.  Albion will also look to two-time All-MIAA seniors Jace Conley (A) and Bear Nelson (D), 2021 First Team All-MIAA midfielder Brock Yabs (So.), and 2021 Second Team All-MIAA juniors Sam Puzevic (A) and Eddie Symons (M).

Calvin concluded the 2021 season with an overall record of 7-4, including a 4-1 mark in league play.  The Knights' roster will feature 2021 First Team All-MIAA players Hunter Stearns (D) and Evan Griffin (G) who are both returning for their senior seasons.  Calvin also returns junior midfielder Robert Miner and senior midfielder Chase Sparling, who both earned Second Team All-MIAA accolades in 2021.

The first contest between MIAA teams is slated for Friday, April 8, with Albion hosting Calvin.  On Saturday, April 9, Trine will host Alma and Adrian will host Kalamazoo.

The 2022 MIAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament will begin with the semifinals on Wednesday, May 4, followed by the championship contest on Saturday, May 7.  The winner will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship.