ALLENDALE, Mich. – Two of the top teams in the nation square off at the GVSU Lacrosse Field Thursday (March 29) night at 7:00 PM in the Lakers' home opener. The No. 16 Grand Valley State Lakers host the No. 8 Indianapolis Greyhounds in a key Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) matchup. The Lakers are 5-2 overall and 3-0 in league play while Indianapolis enters the matchup 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC.
Statistically, the matchup pits the Lakers and their GLIAC-leading offense (18.43 GPG) against the league's number one defense (7.29 GAA) for the Greyhounds. Indianapolis is second in the league in offense while the Lakers rank second in team defense. In draw controls, the Lakers lead the league with 129 while Indianapolis is right on their heels with 124 controlled on the year, further emphasizing the collision of league powerhouses.
Winners of four straight, the Lakers are coming off convincing wins on their long road trip to Northern Michigan and Concordia-St. Paul last weekend. The Lakers have scored at least 20 goals in all four games during their streak and have won each match by at least 10 goals, combining to outscore the Wildcats and Golden Bears 44-8 last weekend.
Erika Neumen has caged a team-high 20 goals on the year, which ranks fourth in the GLIAC, while
Ashley Bailey leads the team with 28 points on 18 goals and 10 assists.
Kelley Fitzgerald has dished out 19 assists to pace the Lakers, and lead the GLIAC, so far this season.
Indianapolis rides a six-match winning streak into Allendale on Thursday. The No. 8 ranking by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) is the highest in the history of the young program. The win streak also features a pair of victories over ranked opponents in Regis (No. 9) and McKendree (No. 21). Defensively, the Greyhounds haven't allowed more than 11 goals in a game this season.
The Hounds have five players with double-digit goals, including team-leader Delaney Davidson, who has scored 21 times. Grace Gunneson is coming off a four-goal performance and now has 17 tallies on the year, Abigail Lagos and Lauryn Hardoy each have 15 goals scored and Anna Rulapaugh sits at 11 goals so far in her senior campaign. Hardoy also has 14 assists on the year.
While the Lakers are yet to play a home game this season, this will be just the second game away from home for the Greyhounds. In a battle of the, statistically, best two teams in the GLIAC and a pair of nationally-ranked opponents, a big home crowd and high energy for the first home match of 2018 could be enough to give GVSU the edge.
