URBANA, Ohio – In the final game of a season-opening six-game road stand, Grand Valley State took care of former GLIAC-foe Urbana, 17-3, at Urbana University Stadium. The Lakers, who received votes in the IWLCA coaches poll and are ranked 19th in the most recent Nike/Lacrosse Magazine media poll, see their record improve to 3-3.
 
The game was barely a minute old before GVSU put one in the back of the net off a shot by Rachel Leibovitz. Erika Neumen tallied her 21st goal of the season off a pass from Zoe Stiemann less than two minutes later, and the sophomore's goal was followed by goals from Victoria Devine at 24:39 and a free-position goal by Sarah Lowe at 23:56.
 
Lowe and Stiemann each tallied unassisted scores just 30 seconds apart to make it a six goal lead. Leibovitz's second goal of the contest, this one on a free-position attempt, and following up her score by assisting on freshman Kerrigan Baird's first career tally at 19:20. Fellow freshman Ashley Bailey rippled the twine with a goal at 16:57 off a feed by the senior Leibovitz, and a free-position goal by Devine at 9:50 made it a 10-0 score, putting the running-clock rule into effect.
 
Chelsey Bishop scored her first goal of the season with 7:47 left in the half, but any ideas of consecutive shutouts over the Blue Knights ended with an Urbana goal at 6:30, making it an 11-1 game.
 
Meggan Loyd connected with Maria D'Angelo just 44 seconds into the second stanza to put the score at 12-1 in favor of the visiting Lakers. An Urbana goal shortly after made it a 10-goal lead, but Nicki Tague connected with Bailey Ellsworth for her first career score to put the lead back to 11 with 16:42 on the clock. Devine would then connect with Brooke Ingraham on back-to-back goals at 11:52 and 10:10, increasing the GVSU lead to 13.
 
Devine completed her hat trick at 8:37 off a feed by Leibovitz, her third of the afternoon, and Lowe assisted Bailey's second score for Grand Valley State's 17th and final score of the afternoon.
 
Devine (3g, 2a) and Leibovitz (2g, 3a) both led the team with five points. Devine also scooped up three ground balls, second on the team to four by Kelly Leibovitz. Carolyn Kraus pulled down a team-leading three draw controls, and the younger Leibovitz led the defensive effort with four caused turnovers. Sarah Zwilsky made six stops in the contest to give her three wins in six starts.
 
In the 14-goal victory, the Lakers controlled the Blue Knights in shots (21-11), ground balls (14-9), draw controls (15-7), and turnovers (14-15). Grand Valley State was also a perfect 3-3 on free-position attempts, while Urbana was only 1-5.
 
With their season-opening road trip concluded, Grand Valley State returns to GVSU Lacrosse/Track & Field Stadium for two straight home contests. The Lakers open the 2015 home portion of their schedule on Tuesday (Mar. 24) when they welcome #3 Lindenwood at 7 p.m.