ALLENDALE, MICH. – The GVSU women's lacrosse team began the GLIAC Tournament with another matchup against Davenport. For the third time in eight days, the Lakers took care of business against the Panthers, winning 16-4 to advance to Sunday's Championship game.
After both teams were scoreless halfway through the opening period, the Lakers got hot to close out the quarter.
Ashleigh Rothe scored the opening goal, going behind her back to beat the Panther goalie, getting an assist from
Jillian Bingman.
Maddy Champagne then scored two straight goals, and
Sydney Stone closed out the quarter with another Laker goal, as they led 4-0 after one quarter.
The scoring run continued into the second, as Stone added her second of the day, followed by goals from
Delaney Smith and
Zoe Ziegler. DU got on the board to make it 7-1, but Champagne tallied a hat trick before the end of the quarter to put GVSU in front by seven goals at the break.
Champagne scored again to begin the second half but was answered by a Panther goal. She then found
Hailey Crittenden for a GVSU goal, then Stone recorded a hat trick to bring the Lakers advantage up to 11-2. Davenport got one back, but Champagne quickly answered to put GVSU up 12-3 heading to the fourth quarter.
Davenport got the first goal of the final period, however GVSU would score the last four goals of the quarter. Stone started it off with her fourth of the day, followed by goals from Rothe and Champagne, before Ziegler closed it out with an assist from
Leah Leonard, as GVSU punched their ticket to the GLIAC Championship game.
Maddy Champagne had six goals and an assist to lead the Laker offense.
Sydney Stone added four goals, with
Zoe Ziegler and
Ashleigh Rothe both scoring twice. Haley Crittenden and
Delaney Smith each scored once.
Jillian Bingman and
Leah Leonard both dished out one assist. GVSU nearly doubled DU up on draw controls, winning 15 of the 23. Stone had five, while Champagne picked up four, and Rothe two.
The Laker defense caused 12 Panther turnovers, with five players forcing multiple.
Hope Leinen forced three, while
Elora Ferrie, Champagne, Stone, and Rothe each forced two. Champagne picked up four groundballs, with Ferrie, Crittenden, and
Aislynn Alkire all adding two.
Kaylyn Cater got the win in net, picking up two saves.
Up Next
The Lakers take on Northern Michigan on Sunday at noon for the GLIAC Championship.
