GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The women's lacrosse team returns home after dropping their first two games in the GLIAC on long road trips to Northern Michigan and Concordia St. Paul over the past weekend. Davenport lost its first two games of the season, won its next five games, and has now lost a pair to stand at 5-4 overall. Grand Valley State is currently ranked No. 19 in the latest IWLCA Division II Poll and are 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC. Saginaw Valley State is playing its first-ever lacrosse season and are currently 0-7 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
 
The Panthers fell 9-6 at Northern Michigan and 11-9 at Concordia St. Paul, as the games were highly competitive. The Wildcats used a potent first quarter to build a 6-1 lead on Friday. Davenport showed resiliency by scoring three straight goals to make it 6-4. Ele Darmofal was able to record two goals and Blakely Malpass also found the back of the net. The scoring would then see-saw over the last five total goals. Malpass and Lauryn Hansen would add goals in the second half, but the Wildcats were able to hold off the Panthers. 12 of the 20 shots by DU were on goal compared to 22-of-32 for Northern Michigan. Both teams committed 19 turnovers and each had a total of 10 ground balls. Northern Michigan was able to take a big advantage in draw controls winning 15-of-19.

The game at Concordia St. Paul saw Davenport lead 3-2 after the first quarter, but the Bears rallied with a 4-1 edge in the second quarter. The final two quarters were even at five goals apiece. Anna Fisher had a big game for the Bears with six goals and one assist. Maddy Haynes recorded three goals and one assist. Haynes currently has 91 goals in her career and is inching closer to the century mark. Malpass finished with one goal and two assists. Malpass and Haynes currently have 22 goals this season which ranks tied for fourth in the GLIAC. Jenna Gillis leads the team with nine assists and that ranks tied for sixth in the conference. Rachel Livak has been the team's starting goaltender over the last three games and is third in the league with 6.2 saves per game.
 
Grand Valley State made the same road trip as travel partners with Davenport and played Concordia St. Paul on Friday and Northern Michigan on Sunday. The Lakers picked up a 17-10 win over the Bears and survived a nail-biter 12-11 over the Wildcats. GVSU staged a fourth quarter comeback and sent the game into overtime inside the Superior Dome. Emerson Holthouser gave the Lakers a happy bus trip back with the game-winner at 4:11 of the extra period. Ashleigh Rothe had the assist on the game-winning goal and finished with eight points consisting of six goals and two assists. She went 4-of-6 on free-position shots and also had six draw controls. Rothe currently ranks third in the conference with 28 goals and is second in the league with 4.2 points per game. The Lakers split time in goal against the Wildcats as Kaylyn Cater played the first half and made four saves. Sarah Krause finished the game with 31:49 in net and also made four saves. Krause has the second-best save percentage in the GLIAC (.489) and Cater ranks fourth (.478).
 
Saginaw Valley State is going through the growing pains of a first-year program, but Gabby Parker has been a bright spot for the Cardinals. She leads the team with 10 goals and 11 points. Sarah Veale is second on the team with seven goals. The Cardinals have been outscored 142-27 this season. Veale also leads the team with 23 draw controls and has caused eight turnovers. Mikaila Stone has played every minute in goal for the Cardinals and has 65 saves.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Thursday, Apr. 3 vs. #19 Grand Valley State (3 PM) – Live Stats – Live Video (FloCollege)
Sunday, Apr. 6 vs. Saginaw Valley State / Morgan's Message Game (12 PM) – Live Stats – Live Video (FloCollege)


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