LAKELAND, Fla. - #15 Grand Valley State starts their quest for an NCAA Tournament appearance off on the right foot Thursday night with a 10-7 upset win over #5 Florida Southern at Bryant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida.

The Lakers (1-0) used a six-goal second half to pull ahead after trailing 5-4 at halftime. It's their first win against Florida Southern (0-1) in two tries, after falling 17-12 in last year's season opener, and it's the highest-ranked opponent GVSU has beaten in their five years of Division II competition.

Newcomer Danielle Tunnell led the Lakers with two goals and an assist for three points, while Erika Neumen, Meghan Datema and Carlyn Shisler all notched two goals. Datema also led the team with five draw control wins, while Caitlin Wojichowski caused two of Florida Southern's 20 turnovers. Sarah Zwilsky earned her first win of the season by making five saves and seven ground balls in 41:55 of play. Brianna DeMilia saw 18 minutes of action in the upset win and made three saves.

The highly-ranked Moccasins pulled ahead early with the first three goals of the game inside of six minutes, but unassisted goals by Shisler and Kira Dosenberry made it a one-goal affair. A pair of FSC goals at 16:30 and 6:28 put the hosts up 5-3 late in the first half before Tunnell and Datema put the Lakers back to within one with goals at 3:08 and 2:12, as the first half of an exciting game concluded.

The score was briefly tied at 27:28 off a rip from Neumen on a feed by Chelsey Bishop before Florida Southern put themselves back in front a minute later. A Datema score at 26:13 tied the score back up and coupled with a tightened defensive effort, the Lakers would string together a five-goal run while holding the Mocs scoreless to go ahead for good.

Tunnell fed Shisler for the freshman's second goal of the contest, and a minute later Ryan Skomial was the next Laker to get on the board. Neumen's second goal of the game came with 5:48 to go to give GV their largest lead of the game. Zwilsky made two saves while the defense forced the Moccasins into committing six turnovers as the clock continued to wind down. Florida Souther broke the goalless streak with 2:20 on the clock, but the Moccasins couldn't maintain possession long enough to make any significant run and the upset was secured by a late turnover forced by Wojichowski.

The teams were even on total shots (23) and ground balls (16), while the Lakers held an 11-9 advantage in draw controls and the Moccasins committed fewer turnovers and were a perfect 12-12 on clears.

Grand Valley State is back at it again on Saturday (Feb. 20) when they take on defending national champion #1 Adelphi (0-0) at noon at Bryant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.