The Grand Valley State University lacrosse team may be the undisputed champion of the GLIAC, but it has some work to do offensively before garnering respect at the national level.

GVSU (2-5) dropped both of its road contests over the weekend at a neutral site against the No. 13 University of New Haven on Saturday 11-6 and Bloomsburg University on Sunday 11-5.

“I don’t know really know where the disconnect is coming from,” GVSU coach Alicia Groveston said on Sunday. “We’ve been saying the same things here and it’s frustrating from my end because it hasn’t been changing.

“If we play like we play today, we’re going to lose in conference.”

The stat line showed a similar storyline in both losses: early leads squandered by offensive complacency.

Junior captain Sarah Lowe opened the scoring at UNH as the Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the momentum vanished in a hurry as the Huskies roared back with seven unanswered goals.

Lowe finished with two goals and two assists, but it wasn’t enough as GVSU was outshot 23-15 and committed 20 turnovers in the loss.

“We let up,” Lowe said of the early lead. “It should pump us up to score more. It’s the hustle factor in the field offensively; we need to move a lot harder and work a lot harder to get the ball back.”

Sophomore midfielder Carolyn Craus, junior attacker Zoe Stiemann, freshman midfielder Kira Dosenberry and freshman attacker Carley Eutsler rounded out the scoring for GVSU.

The Lakers also struck first the following day at Bloomsburg, but once again, it wasn’t enough.

“This weekend really hurts,” said freshman goalkeeper Sarah Zwilsky, who returned to her home state. “It’s frustrating for me. The defense has played pretty well but it feels like we hit a wall. We’re just going to have to lower our shoulder and break through.”

Stiemann, Craus, junior midfielder Brooke Ingraham, junior attacker Victoria Devine and freshman midfielder Ryan Skomial scored goals for GVSU.

Groveston said she plans to reevaluate her lineup to find players who are “willing to do the dirty work.”

“We just need to figure out who’s going to work well together,” Groveston said. “We’re playing a little bit selfish. The important thing is putting more points on the board.”

GVSU is now in danger of losing four straight games for the first time in program history. It also dropped three straight in March 2013.

It will have two weeks to improve, however, before its first home game of the season against Roberts Wesleyan College in Allendale on March 31 at 1 p.m.

The team will then open up GLIAC play at the University of Findlay on April 4.

“I just think it’s a minor speed bump in a longer journey,” Lowe said. “Nothing to dwell on and bring our team down. As a whole, we’re moving in the right direction.”