HUDSONVILLE, Mich. -- In a preseason poll of seven Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) men's lacrosse coaches, Albion College was predicted to finish first in the league after receiving four first-place votes and a total of 34 points.

Hope College was a point off of Albion with the remaining three first-place votes and 33 points.  Adrian College rounds out the top three with 25 points, followed by Trine University in fourth place with 21 points.  Calvin University landed in fifth place after earning 16 points.  Kalamazoo College (11 points) and Alma College (7 points) are predicted to finish in sixth and seventh, respectively.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

Albion not only finished 2022 with a 5-1 conference record (15-4 overall), but the Brits earned the MIAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament crown and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.  Sophomore defender Will Tessin will headline the Brits' roster after earning the title of 2022 MIAA Rookie of the Year.  Two First Team All-MIAA honorees for 2022 will return, including three-time All-MIAA attacker Jace Conley and two-time All-MIAA attacker Sam Puzevic.  Conley, a fifth-year senior, wrapped up the 2022 regular season with 22 goals and 31 points, while senior Puzevic finished as the conference leader in man-up goals (7).  Albion's 2022 Second Team All-MIAA returners include two-time All-MIAA honoree Brock Yabs for his junior year and junior attacker Ethan Rottell.

Hope claimed the regular-season crown last season after earning a perfect 6-0 record (15-3 overall).  The Flying Dutchmen will look to two-time All-MIAA attacker Michael Mann, who received a spot on the First Team last year.  Mann finished league play as the conference runner-up in points (35), assists (15), and man-up goals (5).

Adrian went 4-2 in MIAA competition last year and 12-5 overall.  After both receiving Second Team All-MIAA accolades in 2022, sophomore defender Cameron Reed and sophomore goalie Sam Spangler both return for the Bulldogs.  Reed finished top 10 in the league with 10 caused turnovers, while Spangler led the MIAA with 360 minutes played and 88 saves.

The Thunder concluded 2022 with a 3-3 mark in league play and an overall record of 9-5.  Although Trine does not have any returning 2022 All-MIAA recipients, the roster will feature nine seniors and six juniors.  Two of the team’s top scorers return in the form of seniors Noah Markus and Andrew Douglas, along with their leading faceoff man Jack Konicek.  Junior Nick DiPaolo also returns having led the team in all goalkeeping categories.

Calvin (2-4 MIAA, 8-9 overall) welcomes back two-time All-MIAA midfielder Chase Sparling who earned a spot on the 2022 All-MIAA Second Team.  Kalamazoo concluded the regular season with a 0-6 regular-season record and an overall record of 4-11.  Alma (1-5 MIAA, 5-10 overall) welcomes coach Casey Hogan in his first season at the helm of the Scots program.

The first contest between MIAA teams is slated for Saturday, April 8, with Calvin hosting Albion at 1:00 p.m., Alma hosting Trine at 1:00 p.m., and Kalamazoo hosting Adrian at 4:00 p.m.

The 2023 MIAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament will begin with the semifinals on Wednesday, May 3, followed by the championship contest on Saturday, May 6.  The winner will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship which will begin May 10.