ST. LOUIS, MO. – It was game one of the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament the Laker lacrosse team Thursday afternoon. Playing the fifth-seeded Rockhurst Hawks, GVSU took the lead late in the first quarter, and never relinquished it, advancing to the next round with a 9-4 victory. The win moves them on to the regional semifinals on Saturday, where they will play the top seed in Maryville.
 
After Rockhurst got on the board first, Zoe Ziegler tied the game up at one exactly midway through the quarter. The Hawks got  the lead back, but once again GVSU answered, this time with two straight goals from Grace Maddox, to lead 3-2 after one quarter.
 
In the second quarter, Ella Boose scored twice, and Gracie Bancroft tallied a goal and the Laker defense held the Hawks scoreless, thanks to a late save from Kaylyn Cater, to make it 6-2 at the break.
 
Rockhurst got one back to open the third quarter, but goals from Bancroft and Ashleigh Rothe put GVSU up 8-3 going into the fourth quarter.
 
The Hawks cut their deficit to four over halfway through the fourth, but they never got any closer thanks to three saves from Sarah Krause. Jillian Bingman put the game away with a late goal, advancing the Lakers to the next round.
 
Kaylyn Cater and Sarah Krause were both fantastic in net. Cater picked up the win and posted four saves, while Krause notched seven saves in the second half. Karleigh Rothe and Ella Boose both caused two turnovers, with Kendra Swope grabbing a team-high three groundballs. Boose also had a team-high three draw controls.
 
Gracie Bancroft, Grace Maddox, and Boose all tallied two goals each, with Bancroft and Boose also notching assists. Ashleigh Rothe, Zoe Ziegler, and Jillian Bingman all scored once. Swope dished out two assists, with Rothe and Ziegler each totaling one.
 
Up Next
The Lakers will play Maryville Saturday afternoon at 4:00 eastern time in the Midwest Regional semifinals.