ALLENDALE, Mich. - After their best season in program history, the Grand Valley State women's lacrosse team looks to take the next step as they open the 2016 season taking on a pair of top-five teams in #5 Florida Southern and #1 Adelphi in Lakeland, Florida.

Grand Valley State finished last season 15-4 and a perfect 7-0 in conference regular season play before winning their third-straight GLIAC Tournament title in a 22-13 win over second-seeded Tiffin. The Lakers ended the year ranked 14th in the country in the final Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, and finished just shy of making the NCAA Tournament as they were ranked sixth in the final NCAA North Region poll of the season. With an expansion of the tournament field from eight to 12 teams, this could be the year 15th-ranked Grand Valley State breaks through and makes their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history.

The Laker offense, which ranked third in Division II in scoring offense with 15.65 goals per game, looks just as high-powered as ever, especially at the midfield position. Named a Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American, junior Erika Neumen (75g, 16a) returns after smashing the school records for points and goals in a season en route to being named a Third Team All-American by the IWLCA and Synapse Sports. Joining the GLIAC Tournament Championship MVP will be All-GLIAC First Teamer Ryan Skomial (25g, 28a), who inches closer and closer to the GVSU all-time points record, and All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Carolyn Kraus (22g, 5a), who sits third on the career record list in draw controls with 102. Add in Kira Dosenberry (17 g, 9a), University of Cincinnati transfer Danielle Tunnell (22g, 1a) and a slew of talented returning players and newcomers, the offense should be a force to be reckoned with despite losing 114 goals and 74 assists from last year's attack unit.

While the Lakers must find a way to replace three-time GLIAC Defender of the Year and career caused turnover record holder Alyssa Neumen, the defense will be led by returning All-GLIAC First Team honoree Caitlin Wojichowski. Wojichowski, who was also named to the GLIAC All-Tournament Team, ranked second on the team in caused turnovers with 22 and second in ground balls with 32 while playing in all 19 games in 2015. Also look for Kelly Leibovitz to contribute as a defensive midfielder, as the junior looks to improve upon her 2015 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention campaign where she finished eighth in the GLIAC in ground balls (36) and caused 12 turnovers.

GVSU will be anchored in net once again by Sarah Zwilsky. An All-GLIAC Second Team honoree, Zwilsky started and played in all 19 games last season and finished seventh in the country in goals-against average (7.32) and ninth in save percentage (49.1). Along with being named to the All-Tournament Team, the Maryland native was also named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for making 10 saves, picking up three ground balls and causing one turnover in wins against Ursuline and McKendree. With the departure of longtime Tiffin goalkeeper Rachel Bombard, Zwilsky looks to stake her claim as the top netminder in the conference.

Returning to the sidelines for her fifth year will be Alicia Groveston. After steering the team to its best finish in program history, Groveston was recognized as the IWLCA Division II North Region Coach of the Year for the first time in her career. The Lakers finished the year with their highest ranking in the final IWLCA polls (14th) and their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II North Regional rankings, along with their first two wins over ranked opponents in program history.

The Lakers will start the year off away from home against a pair of Division II heavyweights. GVSU opens the season against the #5 Florida Southern Moccasins on Thursday (Feb. 18) at 7 pm and then on Saturday (Feb. 20) against the defending national champion and top-ranked Adelphi Panthers at noon at Bryant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. Both teams qualified for last season's NCAA Tournament, with the Moccasins falling in the first round of the South Regional and the Panthers winning a 5-4 overtime decision against Lock Haven to win their seventh national title.

Ranked fifth in the IWLCA and Nike/Lacrosse Magazine preseason polls, the Moccasins are looking to make it two consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament with a bevy of returning players and talented newcomers. Leading the defense will be returning IWLCA First Team All-American Gabrielle Barowski, who finished 2015 second in the Sunshine State Conference in caused turnovers (52) and ground balls (53). Joining her along the backline will be a trio of All-SSC honorees in Rachel Griffith, Nicole Bellini and Grace Donovan. Florida Southern will be forced to replace their trio of All-Americans in Caitlin Chase, Megan Asper, and Lorianne Hoover, but that doesn't mean the Moccasins are bereft of offensive options. The Mocs welcome back IWLCA All-South Region Third Teamer Emily Santoli (41g, 11a), as well as All-SSC Second Team honorees Ashley Robertson (38g, 8a), Kendall Kerge (29g, 5a), and a number of talented underclassmen and newcomers.

In an out-of-conference schedule jam-packed with challenging opponents, defending national champion Adelphi may prove to be their toughest opponent. Winning their second straight national title after a 21-1 season, the top-ranked Panthers bring back a slew of talent at both ends of the field as they look to win the program's eighth championship. One of three Panthers named Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-Americans, Rachel O'Brien finished last season with 39 goals and 50 assists to earn Second Team All-America honors as she led the Panthers to back-to-back national titles. Also returning on offense is Jacqueline Jahelka, who led the team with 68 goals as she was named All-Northeast-10 Second Team. Preseason All-American Ryley Weber, along with 2015 Third Team All-American Camille Rosellini and Northeast 10 All-Rookie selection Kaitlyn Stackpole will be back to lead a Panther defense that finished second in the country in goals allowed per-game (5.05) and fifth in goals allowed (111). Leading that vaunted defense from between the pipes will be National Championship MVP Taylor Hayes, who was named the Division II statistical champion for goals against average with a 4.71 GAA in 21 starts.

The opening draw against the Moccasins is scheduled for 7 pm on Thursday, while Saturday's game against the Panthers is scheduled to begin at noon.