ST. JOSEPH, MO. – The Grand Valley State women's lacrosse team concluded their first portion of nonconference play Sunday afternoon, traveling down to Missouri to play Missouri Western State. The Laker defense held the Griffons down, to claim a 9-6 victory for their first win of the season.
 
After MWSU got the first goal of the game, the Lakers responded with three straight, getting scores from Delaney Smith, Veronica Ziemer, and Emerson Holthouser to lead 3-1 after the first quarter. The Griffons would answer back and tied the game at four heading into halftime.
 
Each team scored once in the first four minutes of the second half, before Ella Boose and Holthouser struck again for GVSU to put them up 7-5 after three quarters. In the fourth, Ainsley Shilling netted a goal, then Tatumn Nyen caused a turnover, picked up the groundball, and found the back for her first career goal.
 
Maggie O'Niell made her first career start, picking up the win after making eight saves in the cage. Nyen caused three total turnovers, with Shilling, and Karleigh Rothe each causing two. Nyen and Boose each had two groundballs.
 
Emerson Holthouser led the offense with three goals, while Ella Boose had two goals and two assists. Nyen, Shilling, Smith, and Ziemer all scored once. Smith dished out three assists, with Shilling, Ziemer, and Kendra Swope all had one. Boose and Smith each had three draw controls, with Boose going over 100 for her career.
 
Up Next
The Lakers begin conference play next weekend, hosting Northern Michigan on Friday and Concordia-St. Paul Sunday.