MOON TOWNSHIP, PENN. – The GVSU women's lacrosse team was in Pennsylvania for their 2025 season opener, taking on Indiana University Pennsylvania. The game was back-and-forth throughout, but the Lakers used a big fourth quarter to pull out a 13-9 victory.
 
The Crimson Hawks got on the board first, but GVSU quickly answered back. Scoring for the Lakers were Ashleigh Rothe, off an assist from Gracie Bancroft, and then Zoe Ziegler in just over one minute of action to take a 2-1 lead. IUP tied it back up at the 6:44 mark, but it didn't stay tied long, with Ella Boose getting a pass from Rothe then finding the back of the net, putting GVSU up 3-2. It stayed that way until the end of the quarter thanks to two first quarter saves from Kaylyn Cater, and the Laker defense who caused four Crimson Hawk turnovers.
 
IUP knotted the game up at three about three minutes into the second quarter. That was answered a few minutes later by a goal from Delaney Smith, then Ainsley Shilling added another goal at the 2:44 mark, putting the Lakers up by two. The Crimson Hawks got one back 33 seconds later, but Rothe immediately answered back off the ensuing draw. That goal made it 6-4 GVSU heading into halftime.
 
Three straight goals from IUP put them up 7-6 five minutes into the second half. Rothe struck again for the Lakers to tie it at seven, then she found Idira Marker for another GVSU goal, putting them back in the lead. The lead didn't last, as the Crimson Hawks scored off a free position attempt shot late in the quarter, tying it at eight going to the fourth.
 
GVSU dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring IUP 5-1 over the game's final 15 minutes. Gracie Bancroft took a pass from Kendra Swope and beat the goalkeeper, giving the Lakers the lead once again. They would never relinquish the lead, as Rothe added another, followed by a second from Boose, this one off a pass from Marker, then Boose found Rothe for her fifth goal, making it 12-8. IUP got one back, but Rothe scored the final goal of the day. Sarah Krause made two big saves down the stretch to preserve the lead for GVSU. The win was Dominique Hamman's first victory as a Laker. 
 
Ashleigh Rothe scored a career-high six goals in the win, adding two assists and four draw controls. Ella Boose netted two goals and one assist, to go along with two groundballs. Indira Marker, Ainsley Shilling, Gracie Bancroft, Delaney Smith, and Zoe Ziegler all scored once. Marker, Bancroft, and Kendra Swope recorded assists.
 
Smith and Karleigh Rothe picked up three groundballs, while Shilling, Kylie Waeghe, Tatumn Nyen, and Ella Boose all had two each. Kaylyn Cater and Sarah Krause each made six saves in the cage, playing one half each.
 
Up Next
The Lakers embark on a three-game Spring Break roadtrip starting next Sunday at Quincy. Opening draw is set for 12:00.