Florida Southern (Feb. 13): Live Stats | Video
Limestone (Feb. 16): Live Stats | Video

Allendale, Mich. - After countless hours on the practice field and in the weight room, after months spent in the training room and in film study, the 2015 season is finally here for the Grand Valley State women's lacrosse team.

The Lakers, two-time reigning GLIAC regular season and tournament champions, kick off their season with two challenging out-of-conference road games. They open on Friday (Feb. 13) against the ninth-ranked Florida Southern Moccasins in Lakeland, Florida before heading to Gaffney, South Carolina to take on the fifth-ranked Limestone Lady Saints on Monday (Feb. 16).

Grand Valley State starts off the year with their first-ever national ranking in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA) Division II Preseason Poll, tying for 20^th with 20 points. The Lakers were also picked to finish first in the 2015 GLIAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll, receiving 49 points and seven first-place votes.

GVSU finished last season as the fourth-ranked scoring offense in Division II, scoring 261 goals and an average of 14.50 per game, and paired with their GLIAC-leading 32 goals allowed in 2014, they look to follow that up with another sweep of the conference crowns and their first NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Lakers bring back a number of experienced players for the 2015 campaign, including 2014 GLIAC "Freshman of the Year" Ryan Skomial at midfield, All-GLIAC First Team attacker Sarah Lowe, and All-GLIAC Second Team selections Zoe Steimann at attack and Kira Dosenberry at midfield. The four combined for 121 goals and 105 assists in 2014, along with 161 ground balls and 101 draw controls. Coupled with senior Victoria Devine (28 G, 5 A), junior Carolyn Kraus (22 G, 4 A) and senior Brooke Ingraham (19 G, 7 A), the Laker offense should be quite potent in the new year.

GVSU also brings back two-time GLIAC "Defender of the Year" and All-GLIAC First Team honoree Alyssa Neumen to lead the defense in her final year as a Laker. Neumen tallied 41 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers in 2014, including one goal against Roberts Wesleyan. Also seeing time in the starting line-up will be sophomore Kelly Leibovitz (13 GB, 1 CT), sophomore Kali Heller-Spencer (13 GB, 6 CT), and senior Niki Jacobs (12 GB, 4 CT). Rounding out the back-end for the Lakers will be sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Zwilsky, who posted a 10-5 record as a freshman with a goals against average of 7.29 and a save percentage of .449. Her 89 saves were the third most in a single season for a Laker.

"The team is excited and ready to play," says head coach and two-time GLIAC Coach of the Year Alicia Groveston. "This is the year we know that we need to step up and perform well in these big games."

Unfortunately, the Lakers have had very little success against ranked opponents in their three years of Division II play. Since 2012, GVSU is 0-5 against ranked opponents with the average score 17-6 in favor of the opposition. And with a total of six teams in the IWLCA Division II Preseason Top 20 appearing on the schedule, Groveston acknowledges the time to turn that mark around is now.

"Having so many games against ranked opponents gives us the opportunity to make our mark this season," says Groveston. "We haven't done that in the past few years and we know this team has the most potential to do so."

The main offensive threat GVSU will have to contain will be Florida Southern's trio of returning All-Americans. 2014 First Team selection Megan Asper, Second Team honoree Caitlin Chase, and Third Team selection Lorianne Hoover started in all 18 games and combined for 153 goals and 258 points in 2014, and should lead the way again for the Moccasin offense in 2015.

Also returning for Florida Southern will be Third Team All-American Gabrielle Barowski and Second Team All-South Region selection Parrisa Sakinejad leading the defense. The two combined for 47 caused turnovers, 31 draw controls and 79 ground balls. Nicole Bellini, a Division I transfer from Old Dominion, is also expected to play a prominent role in the defensive side of the field. The Moccasin defense will need to be stiff if they are to make up for the loss of two-time Division II Goalie of the Year Katie Hammerer.

Despite graduating several All-American and All-Region honorees, fifth-ranked Limestone has more than enough returning players to make up for what they lost. An important piece of the Lady Saint offense returning for 2015 will be senior midfielder and three-time All-Conference Carolinas First Team selection Sam McCarrick. McCarrick, who scored six goals in the team's 20-4 win against Emmanuel this past Tuesday, led the Lady Saints in points (47) and was second on the team in goals (45) as she earned IWLCA Second Team All-South Region honors last season. Joined by 2014 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team attacker Keirsten MacLellan and incoming JUCO transfer Melanie Murphy, the Limestone offense should be just as dangerous coming into the 2015 season.

The Lady Saints see sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Teeter, the 2014 Conference Carolinas Tournament Most Outstanding Player, return for them between the pipes. Teeter started in all 19 games for Limestone last season, posting a 7.30 goals against average to go with her 79 saves, .418 save percentage and 32 ground balls. The young netminder figures to be the lone returning starter on a defensive side that will see plenty of new faces in the 2015 starting lineup.

While a loss to either out-of-region team won't cripple their postseason chances, winning just one of these games will give the Lakers NCAA Tournament résumé a boost in a crowded North Region. With nine other teams from the North ranked in the Preseason Top 20 and only four postseason spots available per region, Grand Valley State will need more than a third consecutive GLIAC title sweep to continue their season deep into May. Groveston, however, is confident her girls can get it done.

"With eight seniors who play such a vital role on the field, plus our great younger players, there is a greater sense of urgency among us. The leadership they have shown and committed themselves to has been outstanding."

Face-off against Florida Southern is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, while the Lakers and Lady Saints square off at 4 p.m. on Monday.