Tiffin (Apr. 1):
Live Stats |
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Findlay (Apr. 3):
Live Stats |
VideoÂ
ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State continues their GLIAC schedule this weekend when they welcome Tiffin and Findlay to GVSU Lacrosse Stadium. The Lakers and Dragons will square off on Friday (Apr. 1) at 6 pm, while the game against the Oilers will happen at 1 pm on Sunday (Apr. 3).
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Grand Valley State, 4-3 overall and 2-0 against conference opposition, enters their pair of GLIAC home games ranked eighth in the country in the latest IWLCA coaches' poll and ninth in Division II in the most recent Nike/
Lacrosse Magazine media poll. Grand Valley State is coming off a pair of GLIAC wins to open their conference schedule, as the Lakers hung 23 goals on McKendree in a 23-11 win over the Bearcats on March 25, and then clamped down on upstart Indianapolis in a 15-4 win on March 26.
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The Laker offense, tied for third in the conference in goals scored (85) and fourth in goals scored per game (12.14), will be lead in these tough upcoming games by their talented trio of
Erika Neumen,
Ryan Skomial, and
Meghan Datema. Neumen has found the back of the net 20 times this season, while Skomial has tallied 16 goals and 11 assists for 27 points, and Datema has put up 15 points on 12 goals and three assists.
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The three are also threats outside of their ability to put points on the board. Datema currently leads the team with 22 draw controls and has picked up eight ground balls, while Neumen has pulled down 19 draw controls to go with her 15 ground balls and nine caused turnovers, and Skomial has put up seven draw control wins, four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
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Kira Dosenberry,
Danielle Tunnell, and
Chelsey Bishop have also been significant contributors for the Laker offense this season. Dosenberry has put up 10 goals and three assists for 13 points, along with 17 ground balls, 15 draw control wins, and eight caused turnovers. Tunnell has found the back of the net eight times and recorded two assists along with seven ground balls, four draw control wins and three caused turnovers. Bishop has tallied nine assists to go with her lone goal, and the sophomore has added three ground balls and two draw control wins to her statline.
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One of the few senior defenders on the roster,
Caitlin Wojichowski has been a force for the Laker defense in 2016. Recently named the GLIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week, Wojichowski has caused a team-leading 12 turnovers while picking up 14 ground balls.
Chloe Zdybel and
Kelly Leibovitz have also played well as defensive midfielders. Leibovitz has recorded 15 ground balls, three draw controls and three caused turnovers, while Zdybel has picked up eight ground balls, won six draw controls, and caused five turnovers.
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Sarah Zwilsky will be manning the pipes in these two GLIAC games. The junior goalkeeper has started and played in all seven games this season, earning four wins while making a 38.9 save percentage and a goals against average of 10.88 in 320 minutes of action.
Brianna DeMilia has also seen the field in four relief appearances this season, making 12 saves on 34 shots faced in 100 minutes in the cage.
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Tiffin enters Friday with a 5-4 overall record and a 3-1 mark against conference opponents after winning over Findlay on Wednesday. Coming into Allendale with the highest-scoring offense in the conference, the Dragon offense will be paced by Emily Roussel, Tori Nelson, and Gina Abulone. Roussel leads the team with 38 points on 35 goals and three assists, while Nelson checks in with 26 goals and five assists and Abulone has 10 goals and 20 assists. Nelson also leads the team with 61 draw controls, while Roussel has caused a team-high 14 turnovers. Kat Schneeberger will be manning the pipes for Tiffin, as the freshman has started all nine games this season and put up a 45.8 save percentage and 10.26 goals against average.
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Sunday's opponent, Findlay, will bring a 6-3 overall record and 3-1 conference mark to GVSU Lacrosse Stadium. The Oilers have scored 117 goals this season and averaged 13.00 goals per game, putting them second in the conference behind Tiffin and ahead of the Lakers. Grand Valley State will need to find a way to lock down do-it-all Findlay midfielder Sarah Lankton. The senior midfielder leads the team with 37 points on 25 goals and a team-best 12 assists, along with 48 draw controls, 30 ground balls, and 10 caused turnovers. Kyra Bradley is also a scoring threat for the Oilers, as she leads the team with 26 goals and ranks second with 29 points. Of the four Findlay goalkeepers on the roster, Brooke Eicher will most likely be starting on Sunday. The sophomore has started in seven games and boasts a 9.96 goals against average and a 41.8 save percentage.
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Links to the live statistical and video broadcasts are included at the top of the page as well as on the schedule page. For the Tiffin game, if you bring a gallon of water to the gate, you will receive free admission.