ST. PAUL, Minn. - This week, Concordia-St. Paul women's lacrosse (4-3, 1-2 GLIAC) makes its first conference road trip as a program, taking on Davenport University (2-4, 0-2 GLIAC) on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. (CT) at DU Turf Field in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
This also marks the first meeting between the programs, with Concordia in its second year and Davenport in its first year of Division II membership. The Golden Bears look to bounce back from this season's first set of back-to-back losses while trying to even their record at 2-2 in the GLIAC. Concordia carries a 3-0 road record on the year into this week's road trip.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
Nearing the midway point of the 2018 lacrosse season, the Golden Bears are led offensively by the trio of sophomores
Maddie Hentges and
Kailey Heinl and freshman
Raelyn Korinek. Hentges leads the team in points (23) and assists (9) while Heinl leads the league with 17 goals, one more than Korinek as the duo is tied with 18 points. The offense is a balanced effort with seven players producing at least 10 points and six players scoring at least six goals.
Defensively, the statistical leader is freshman
Lexi Stanley with 19 ground balls (third on the team) and a team-high 12 caused turnovers.
Concordia has been consistent in splitting time in the net between sophomore
Katie Lottsfeldt and freshman
Claire Hagen. Through seven games, Lottsfeldt has picked up six starts and securing 229:14 of the 420:00 minutes in net. She holds a 39.6 save percentage and leads the team with 28 ground balls. Hagen has one start, a 2-0 record and 190:46 minutes with a 43.1 save percentage and 10.38 goals against average and is second on the team with 20 ground balls.
As a team, Concordia has attempted 210 shots on the year, two shy of the opposition which includes a pair of nationally-ranked opponents while racking up 172 ground balls compared to 144 against. The Bears have also caused 70 turnovers while opponents have caused just 48.
ABOUT DAVENPORT
The Panthers will play their home opener against Concordia while searching for their first GLIAC win, falling on the road 22-10 at McKendree on Friday before an 18-5 defeat at #9 (now #8) Indianapolis on Sunday.
After picking up a pair of early season victories in Florida, 24-6 at Palm Beach Atlantic and 24-21 at Embry-Riddle, the Panthers found themselves off to a 2-1 start before dropping the last there contests including a 17-4 loss at Findlay after their spring trip and before GLIAC play opened.
Davenport is coming off a 15-3 season in its final year at the NAIA level including a 13-1 mark in the WHAC, reaching the NAIA Invitational semifinals a year ago in a season that included a regular season win over #8 Ave Maria (22-14) and an NAIA Invitational quarterfinal win over #7 Ave Maria (15-9). Concordia also played Ave Maria last season in the Golden Bears' inaugural campaign, securing a 16-15 win over the nationally-ranked NAIA member as well.
The Panthers are led by Taylor Ries with 30 points (16g, 14a) while Ryann Deuel leads the team in goals (20) and is second in points (29). Deuel also leads the team with 30 draw controls, followed by Brenna Knoll with 20 as Knoll contributes 10 goals and five assists.
Goalie Alex Yates leads the club with 25 ground balls and is allowing 17.2 goals against with a 39.4 save percentage. Their top defender in front of Yates is Maeve Sweeney with 14 ground balls and seven caused turnovers.
