MIDLAND, Mich. – The Grand Valley State women's lacrosse team has been picked as the No. 1 team in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Preseason Poll, per the conference headquarters.  Last season, the Lakers posted a 14-4 record after falling in overtime of the GLIAC finals to Indianapolis, 18-17.  Head coach Mackenzie Lawler enters her second year at the helm of the program alongside assistant coach Nora Boerger. 
 
GVSU reclaims seven starters, including the highest-returning scorer, Abbi O'Neal, and former All-GLIAC recipients Elizabeth Yeomans and Sarah Stagaard.  O'Neal found the back of the net 51 times on 90 attempts and dished out 14 assists in 2019.  Last year, Yeomans led the team in caused turnovers with 26, which landed her at fifth-most in the conference.  Stagaard enters the season after posting the second-most ground balls (27) and draw controls (37) for active players last spring. 
 
Captains Sophie Conroy, Anna Gritter, Sarah Stagaard and Megan Yoshida prepare a team that highlights seven newcomers.  The Lakers boast a non-conference schedule that features road games at former GLIAC foes, Indianapolis (Feb. 28) and McKendree (March 1), before opening home-field play on March 13 against Tiffin. 
 
Throughout their eight seasons as a Division II program, GVSU has captured the GLIAC regular season title six times, won the GLIAC Tournament four times and holds an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016. 
 
The Lakers were picked as the No. 20 ranked team in the IWLCA Preseason Poll, released on Jan. 27.  For the second consecutive season, GVSU kicks off the 2020 season at Lake Erie on Sunday, Feb. 23.  Last season, the Lakers dominated the then-ranked No. 19 Storm, 14-4.