ERIE, PENN. – The GVSU women's lacrosse team began their 2024 season this afternoon out in Pennsylvania against Mercyhurst. Despite trailing after the first quarter, the Lakers dominated from that point on, taking home a 17-8 win.
 
Sydney Stone opened the scoring five minutes into the game, getting an assist from Maddy Champagne. Mercyhurst responded with four straight goals to go up 4-1. Champagne scored her first goal of the season before the end of the quarter to make it 4-2 after 15 minutes.
 
GVSU dominated the second quarter, outscoring Mercyhurst 9-1 throughout the period. Jillian Bingman scored her first goal as a Laker to begin the scoring run, followed by another from Champagne, then Stone added her second of the day, this one off an assist from Delaney Smith. Mercyhurst scored their lone goal of the quarter to end that run, but GVSU came back with six straight. Stone tallied a hat trick to start the 6-0 run, followed by Champagne getting her hat trick, this goal off an assist from Bingman. Zoe Ziegler then found Champagne for another goal, before Hailey Crittenden, Smith, and Stone all got another to make it 11-5 at the half.
 
Champagne and Smith scored consecutive unassisted goals to begin the second half. Ainsly Shilling scored her first goal as a Laker off an assist from Bingham, making it 14-5. Mercyhurst got one back shortly after, but Bingman found Crittenden for another goal, then Shilling added her second of the day late in the third quarter to give GVSU a 16-6 lead with one quarter to play.
 
The third Laker hat trick was tallied right away in the fourth quarter, with Crittenden notching her third goal of the day. Mercyhurst scored the final two goals of the day, but it was not enough as GVSU won their season opener for the fourth consecutive season.
 
Maddy Champagne totaled five goals and six draw controls to lead the way offensively. Sydney Stone had four goals and seven draw controls, while Crittended added a hat trick. Ainsley Shilling and Delaney Smith each had two goals, with Smith adding an assist. Jillian Bingman recorded one goal and three assists, while Zoe Ziegler had one assist. Ashleigh Rothe had six draw controls.
 
Defensivley, Elora Ferrie caused three turnovers, with Aislynn Alkire caused two. Sarah Krause picked up the win in the cage for the Lakers.
 
Up Next
GVSU closes out their roadtrip on Sunday, taking on Frostburg State at 12:00.