ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Grand Valley women's lacrosse played their first home GLIAC contest this afternoon against fellow the team they were tied atop the standings with, in Northern Michigan. The Lakers left little in doubt, taking control of the game early and taking down the Wildcats 16-8. The win moved GVSU to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
 
GVSU started on a 3-0 run, getting unassisted goals from Grace Bancroft and Molly Bursinger, then Zoe Ziegler got an assist from Ashleigh Rothe to conclude the run. NMU scored two straight to cut their deficit to one goal, but Maggie Hammer scored two consecutive goals, one unassisted and the other off a pass from Rothe as GVSU led 5-2 after the first quarter.
 
The Wildcats got one back to open the second half, but GVSU responded with three straight to end the period. Maddy Champagne netted two straight unassisted goals, then Rothe got on the board with a pass from Bursinger, as GVSU led 8-3 at the half.
 
Bursinger got her second goal of the game, getting an assist from Champagne, to begin the second half before Hammer secured a hat trick to put the Lakers up by seven. NMU answered with one goal, but GVSU Rothe got it back off an assist from Bursinger, then Champagne and Bursinger each scored to give themselves hat tricks and give the Lakers a 13-4 lead. The Wildcats scored to end the quarter, but still trailed heading into the fourth.
 
Champagne netted two more goals to open the fourth, one unassisted and the other off an assist from Rothe. Ziegler got another goal to push the lead up to 11 at 16-5. The Wildcats attempted to comeback, scoring three straight to end the game, but it was not enough as GVSU won and sits atop the GLIAC standings at 2-0 in conference play.
 
Maddy Champagne scored five goals and added an assist to total six points on the game. Maggie Hammer and Molly Bursinger each registered a hat trick, with Bursinger adding two assists. Zoe Ziegler and Ashleigh Rothe each had two goals, while Grace Bancroft had one. Rothe had three assists and six draw controls and Champagne gathered eight draw controls and Bursinger had five.
 
Audrey Maloney picked up the win in net, saving six shots. Kylie Waeghe recorded four groundballs, while Rothe, Hailey Crittenden, and Ella Boose each had two.
 
Up Next
The Lakers head back out onto the road on Sunday, heading to Notre Dame College for a noon matchup.