GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The nationally ranked Colorado Mesa women's lacrosse team is set to host No. 15 Grand Valley and No. 4 Lindenwood this week on March 5th and 9th, respectively. These two teams are the Mavericks first ranked opponents of the season. The Mavericks are a perfect 2-0 on their short season after recently defeating Westminster 23-6 last Friday on March 1 in a non-conference match up that took place at Walker Field.
No. 15 Grand Valley also owns a perfect record at 3-0. They have traveled to Colorado from Allendale, Mich. for a three game trip with games against the Mavericks, Westminster and Regis University. Colorado Mesa will catch them on their second game of the trip as they have already defeated Westminster, 17-3. The Mavs and Lakers will square off tomorrow night March 5th at 3:30 pm on Walker Field.
The Mavs and Lindenwood will face each other in the first game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season on Saturday, March 9th at 1 pm on Walker Field. No. 21 CMU will be the Lions first ranked opponent of the season. They currently sit 5-0.
A Look at the Mavs
Erin Koehler and Olivia Hayden are not only two of the Mavericks best players but they rank best among all Division II women's lacrosse players. Koehler ranks second in the nation for caused turnovers per game at 5.00 and averages 6.50 ground balls a game which is good enough for fifth best in the country.
Hayden has recorded ten goals this season in two games making her 5.00 goals per game twelfth best among all Division II women's lacrosse players and second in the RMAC. Hayden is averaging 10.50 draw controls per game which ranks her third on the national level.
She finished the Westminster game with a school-record 13 draw controls, braking her own mark of 12 which was set last year at Regis.
Paige Elliott and Kenzie Blackwell each have seven assists on the season to lead the Mavericks. Blackwell has recorded four goals and is the Mavericks second best offensive player with 11 points on the season. In her last outing she recorded six points which was the best effort of her career.
In just two games the Mavericks have outscored their opponents 38-14 and taken twice as many shots at 65-32.
IWLCA Coaches Poll
In this week's IWLCA Coaches Poll which was released on March 4 the Mavericks stayed put at No. 21. The 2019 Coaches Poll will include 25 teams and be released weekly during the regular season. The final regular season poll for the 2019 season will be published on May 6.
The Mavericks schedule features four ranked opponents including two top ten teams which are No. 4 Lindenwood and No. 9 Regis University.
Scouting Grand Valley
The Lakers are led by Abbi O'Neal who has registered 11 goals in three games this season. She leads the team in points at 14 and has taken the most shots (20). Her shots on goal percentage is 75.0 percent and she has recorded seven draw controls.
Carly Shisler has 12 points with eight goals and four assists this season. She has taken the second most shots on the team at 19 total.
As a team GVSU has averaged 15 goals per game and has outscored their opponents 45-17 in three games.
Scouting Lindenwood
The Mavericks will open up the RMAC season against the reigning RMAC Champions and preseason number one pick. The Lions are led by Carly Fedorowski who has recorded 16 goals and seven assists this season. Her 23 points on the five game season leads the team. As RMAC Preseason Midfielder of the Year she has also picked up a team high 18 ground balls and collected 38 draw controls.
The Lions have outscored their opponents 82-16 so far this season and outshot their opponents 175-45.
Up Next
The Mavericks will stay at home for the final two games of their five game home stand. First they will face Rockhurst on March 13 at 4pm followed by a game against Oklahoma Baptist on March 15 at 4 pm. Both these games will be RMAC contest and played on Walker Field.
After these two games the Mavericks will hit the road for a six game road swing that begins on March 18 against Tiffin University and close on April 6 against Regis University.
