With a pre-season roster loaded with returning letterwinners, the Flying Dutch approach the 2010 campaign with hopes of challenging for a conference championship.

Coach Leigh Sear's Flying Dutch will be playing their first complete season in the state-of-the-art Van Andel Soccer Stadium. The team played a portion of its 2009 season in the new facility. The 2010 campaign has 10 home games, including three under the lights.

The Flying Dutch are coming off a disappointing 8-9-1 season and fifth place finish in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The Flying Dutch are five victories away from the 100th under coach Sears who begins her 10th season.

Last year's roster included only one senior. This year's pre-season roster could include as many as 25 returning letterwinners. Co-captains of the team will be seniors Kelsey Bos of Holland (Holland HS), Kara Marsman of Holland (Holland Christian HS), and Kristen Schwenk of Midland (HH Dow HS).

Returning senior midfielder Courtney Cook of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Central) is a three-time All-MIAA player. She received first-team honors in 2007 and 2008 and was named to the second team in 2009. Kelsey Bos, a goalkeeper, and freshman midfielder Tricia Bajema of Grandville (Grandville HS) were All-MIAA second team honorees in 2009 and Kristen Schwenk received the recognition in 2008.

Eight returning players have lettered for three seasons - Emily Baracy of Canton (Canton HS), Kelsey Bos, Courtney Cook, Mallory Fox of Livonia (Livonia Stevenson HS), Bethany Kicz of Ada (Forest Hills Central HS), Katie Lovinger of Hillsdale (Hillsdale HS), Kara Marsman, Lauren Miller of San Diego, Calif. (University City HS), and Kristen Schwenk.

Other returning letterwinners on the pre-season roster include sophomore Megan Altieri of Bay Village (Bay Village HS), junior Lana Gentry of Traverse City (Traverse City Central HS), sophomore Lindsay Jipping of Jenison (Unity Christian HS), sophomore Alyson Epolito of East Lansing (East Lansing HS), junior Nikki Franzese of Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central HS), sophomore Kylie Clark of Noblesville, Ind. (Noblesville HS), sophomore Alexis Prins of Hudsonville (Unity Christian HS), sophomore Rachel Doud of Rockford (Rockford HS), sophomore Sara Lang of Traverse City (Traverse City Central HS), junior Grace Gonzalez of Park Ridge, Ill. (Maine South HS), sophomore Meredith Faas of Saline (Saline HS), junior Danielle Petzak of Zeeland (Zeeland West HS), junior Bethann Hamer of Palatine, Ill. (Palatine HS), and junior Jessica Malkin of Bay City (Bay City Western HS).

2009 Season in Review

MIAA Recognizes Three Players (11/12/09)
Three Hope women's soccer players have been awarded all-conference honors by the MIAA.

Named to the All-MIAA team were freshman Tricia Bajema of Grandville (Grandville HS), junior Courtney Cook of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Central HS), and junior Kelsey Bos of Holland (Holland HS).

The Flying Dutch, coached by Leigh Sears, tied for fifth (4-3-1) in the MIAA standings and were 8-9-1 overall.