As a new program, the Grand Valley State University women’s lacrosse team is discovering firsthand what it will take to be a national perennial powerhouse.

Just two days after traveling to New York and falling at the hands of No. 8 Dowling University, the GVSU women’s lacrosse team boarded the bus for another trip to the Empire State to face another top-ranked team.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, their second trip out east this week didn’t prove to be any easier, as they succumbed to No. 5 Adelphi University 22-5 on Tuesday night.

Tuesday’s game was the second in a stretch of four consecutive away games for GVSU, as they will head to New York twice more before the month ends. Despite the losses and long travel days, the Lakers know their games in the hotbed of lacrosse will be beneficial when GLIAC play begins.

“We’re getting a chance to play ranked teams every night,” said senior defender Brianna Shefferly. “They’re teams we might never see at home, but you can learn from playing against more experienced players. It makes us mentally tougher.”

The young Laker squad saw the marks of an extremely experienced Adelphi team early on in the contest, as the Panthers ripped the twine for eight of the game’s first nine goals.

Adelphi (8-0) upheld their nationally ranked status admirably, outshooting GVSU 39-11 over the course of the game.

Although the stat sheet was tilted heavily in favor of the Panthers, Laker head coach Alicia Groveston felt that her team had no reason to hang their heads.

“There are a lot of positives,” Groveston said. “We were very intense and physical. We came out extremely motivated. We just have to continue to clean up our little mistakes. We haven’t caught a lot of breaks recently.”

GVSU (2-4) hopes the ball will start bouncing their way, as they have dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.

The Lakers played aggressively from the first faceoff, as they managed to possess the ball often and keep pressure on the Adelphi attackers. Unfortunately for GVSU, the Panther offense was too skilled to be stopped, as they riddled Laker goalkeeper Audrey Kobe with shots from every position on the field.

“The ball moves faster here,” Groveston said. “Adelphi is a very talented team and they are able to get their hands free everywhere. Kobe made the saves she needed to make. She’s in the least envied position on the field.”

The Lakers don’t want their brief skid to avalanche into a long losing streak, as they’ll look to get back on their feet Thursday against Queens (N.Y.) College. Queens and GVSU share a common result, as both lost games to Assumption College (Mass.) by one goal earlier in the season.

The recent losses have put a spark underneath the Lakers as a crucial part of the season approaches: just two matches are left before the start of conference games.

“We know what we need to do,” said sophomore captain Sarah Lowe. “We need to come together on Thursday and get out of this trip with two wins under our belt. We need to be riding on our high horse come time for GLIAC play.”

Five different players scored for GVSU, as senior Allyson Fritts brought her team-high total up to 16 goals. Adelphi was led by junior Devan Crimi, who exploded offensively for six goals and three assists.
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