Warriors, weather non-factors as LAKERS ROLL

GVSU improves to 5-1 with 22-5 win over Wayne State

By DEREK WOLFF

Updated: March 27, 2011, 8:19 PM

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Junior Alex Davis during Friday’s game against Wayne State

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Derek Wolff

Despite freezing conditions and Wayne State University arriving 45 minutes late, the Grand Valley State University women’s lacrosse team fought the elements – and the Warriors – en route to an easy 22-5 home win.

The 22-goal performance was the Lakers’ highest scoring output of the season, eclipsing the 15-goal mark they set in a 15-13 win over Davenport University on March 18. The Lakers improved to 5-1 on the season, with their only loss coming against rival Aquinas College in a 19-6 defeat on Feb. 26.

Freshman attacker Jodie Parker, junior midfielder Alex Davis, junior captain Susan Hoddinott and junior defender Keegan Warner led the way offensively for the Lakers, each scoring multiple times. The Lakers opened up the scoring with three straight goals before Wayne State got on the board.

GVSU finished the first half with a 9-2 run capped by late goals from sophomore midfielders Brooke Shelton and Michelle Gagliardi to enter halftime up 12-3.

“Our transition game was working really well today,” Shelton said. “We were setting up plays nicely on offense.”

The second half saw the Laker offense dominate possession on their way to another ten goals while only yielding two to Wayne State.

“It went really well today and there were a lot of players who don’t normally get a lot of playing time who got a lot today,” Shelton said. “They did really well for us and scored a lot for our team.”

Despite the weather, GVSU players were enthusiastic and loud throughout the game and had good reason to be, after posting a new season high with 22 goals.

“We’ve been meshing a lot better as a team so that’s really been benefitting us,” Hoddinott said. “It all came together pretty well today.”

While the lacrosse team has had success this year at the club level, no women from the team will be making the switch to the varsity squad in 2012, as the sport will become GVSU’s 18th varsity program.

The fact that GVSU head coach to-be Alicia Groveston would not be bringing in anyone from the club team and will only recruit players from high school didn’t faze the team.

“We’re here just for the love of the sport,” Shelton said.

The Lakers only have another five games remaining in their regular season and will hope to make it to the Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) playoffs.

The team is confident after quality wins against a pair of varsity squads this season, Davis said.

“We did a great job against Davenport, who we were afraid of last year,” she said. “It’s great that we beat them, as well as Olivet, another varsity team.”

The team will begin a two-game road trip starting with Hope College tomorrow at 7 p.m. and will take on Calvin College at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Despite the optimism and confidence that comes with Saturday’s drubbing of Wayne State, the team will get back to work in practice and focus on the next game.

“We know there are still things we have to continue to work on,” Davis said. “We know it pays off.”

dwolff@lanthorn.com

Published March 27, 2011 Sports, PageOne