McKendree (Apr. 12): Live Stats | Video
Regis (Apr. 13): Live Stats | Video

ALLENDALE, Mich. - Following four consecutive road games, the Grand Valley State women's lacrosse team will finally see an extended home stay in the 2015 season as they host four straight contests at GVSU Lacrosse/Track & Field Stadium, beginning with a conference tilt against McKendree on Saturday (Apr. 12) at noon and the final non-conference game of the year on Sunday (Apr. 13) against #12 Regis, also at noon.

On the heels of a five-game winning streak, the Lakers (8-4, 3-0) sit atop the conference ahead of Tiffin (7-6, 3-0) and Findlay (5-5, 3-0). Grand Valley State has also made an appearance in the most recent polls, ranking 20th in the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Division II Media Poll and receiving votes in the week seven Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Coaches Poll.

GVSU's offense has been humming since their 14-5 loss to #3 Lindenwood on Mar. 24, scoring 86 goals in five games. And leading the charge into Sunday's showdown are sophomores Erika Neumen and Ryan Skomial, who have played in and started all 12 games this season. Neumen tops the team in goals (42) and points (49) while ranking second and third, respectively, in the GLIAC in those categories. Skomial leads the team with 18 assists while ranking second in points (29) and sixth in goals (11). Skomial, who ranks third in the conference in assists, also tops the team in draw controls (38) while Neumen ties for fifth on the team in ground balls (16).

Also contributing to the Laker offense this season has been Zoe Stiemann, who stands second on the team with 15 and third in points with 20. Brooke Ingraham and Rachel Leibovitz tie for third on the team with 14 goals, while Ingraham, Victoria Devine, and Sarah Lowe all have 19 points to tie for fourth on the roster. Carolyn Kraus has also been a key player this season, pulling down 35 draw controls and scooping up 22 ground balls to go with her eight goals and two assists.

The Laker defense has played exceptionally well during the streak, holding opponents to an average of 2.6 goals per game and 7.67 throughout the season, including holding conference opponents Alderson-Broaddus, Walsh, and Ursuline to a combined two goals while forcing them into committing 39 turnovers.

Leading the defense has been senior captain and two-time GLIAC Defender of the Year Alyssa Neumen. Named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the week of March 31, leads the team with 15 caused turnovers while scooping up 17 ground balls. Caitlin Wojichowski, who also earned GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, has also been a force on defense to the tune of 11 caused turnovers and 16 ground balls.

It's been the Sarah Zwilsky show between the pipes for the Lakers in 2015. The sophomore netminder has played every minute of every game this season, racking up 73 saves with a 43.9 save percentage and a goals against average of 7.67. Zwilsky made a career-high 13 saves against Wheeling Jesuit on April 1.

Sunday's opponent McKendree has gone 9-2 and 2-1 in the conference in their inaugural season as members of the GLIAC for women's lacrosse. The Bearcats, who suffered a 14-10 loss to Lake Erie on Friday, are led Victoria Lelo in nearly every statistical category. She leads the team in goals (36), points (45), ground balls (29), and caused turnovers (27). The only categories she doesn't top for McKendree are assists (18 - Paige Salthouse) and draw controls (43 - Mia Fiore). In the net, the Bearcats will turn to Amy Porta to try and tame this Laker offense. Porta has played in all 11 games, holding a 5.45 goals against average and a 45.9 save percentage.

No. 12 Regis, Monday's opponent for the Lakers, will be their final non-conference contest of the 2015 season. The Rangers, currently holding a 9-3 record while standing 12th in both the IWLCA and Nike/Lacrosse Magazine polls, possess one of the best offenses in the country, ranking third in goals per game (16.58), sixth in goals scored (199), eighth in draw controls per game (15.33), and ninth in draw controls won (184).

The Rangers are paced on offense by senior Emily Behr. Behr, a 2014 All-RMAC First Team selection and a member of the 2014 RMAC All-Tournament Team, has put up 76 points on 50 goals and 26 assists, ranking first in Division II in points and third in goals. Behr also leads the team with Jada Bonner in draw controls with 32. Regis is also led on the offensive end by Erin Steiner (25g, 8a) and Emily Elkins (22g, 6a). Defensively, Perella leads with 25 caused turnovers and 32 ground balls. Either Kenley Harrington or Gianna Lombardi will be in the cage on Monday. Harrington holds a 41.5 save percentage and a goals against average of 6.37 in four games, while Lombardi possesses 42 saves in eight games.

Both games will be broadcasted over the web at the Grand Valley State YouTube page, while the Sunday contest game against McKendree will be a televised broadcast over XFINITY 900. Both games will also have live stat broadcasts, and the links to both games can be found at the women's lacrosse schedule page and at the top of the page.