Holland Reporter

The GVSU women's lacrosse team began their 2025 season with a victory against Indiana University Pennsylvania (IUP) in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The match was competitive, but the Lakers secured a 13-9 win with a strong performance in the fourth quarter.

The Crimson Hawks scored first, but GVSU quickly responded. Ashleigh Rothe and Zoe Ziegler scored for the Lakers, taking an early lead. IUP tied the game at 6:44, but Ella Boose's goal from an Ashleigh Rothe assist put GVSU back on top at 3-2 by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, IUP equalized again before Delaney Smith and Ainsley Shilling added goals for GVSU. The Crimson Hawks scored once more, but Rothe's immediate response maintained GVSU's lead at halftime with a score of 6-4.

IUP came back strongly in the second half with three consecutive goals to take a 7-6 lead. However, Rothe equalized for GVSU and then assisted Idira Marker to regain their advantage. The game was tied again at eight heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter saw GVSU dominate by outscoring IUP 5-1. Gracie Bancroft’s goal from Kendra Swope's pass gave them a lead they did not relinquish. Rothe added another goal followed by two more from Boose and another from Rothe to finalize her career-high six-goal tally. Sarah Krause made crucial saves late in the game to secure Dominique Hamman's first victory as head coach of the Lakers.

Rothe ended with six goals, two assists, and four draw controls. Boose contributed two goals and one assist while Marker, Shilling, Bancroft, Smith, and Ziegler each added one goal. Multiple players contributed defensively as well.

Next up for the Lakers is a three-game Spring Break road trip starting next Sunday at Quincy with an opening draw scheduled for noon.