GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University Mavericks took a 4-2 lead but surrendered nine straight goals, including  four in a stretch of 4:07 at the start of the second half, as the visiting and nation's 13^th-ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers emerged with a 14-7 NCAA Division II Midwest Region win on Thursday here at the Mavs' Community Hospital Unity Field.
 
The Lakers moved to 3-0 on the season as Ashleigh Rothe and Gracie Bancroft combined for seven goals.  The Mavs, playing their home-opener, dropped their third straight game, all to nationally-ranked opponents, and are now 1-4.
 
Courtney Havel led six Maverick goal scorers with two.  Justine Anderson also scored and had two of the Mavericks' four assists.
 
The Mavericks were able to take a 2-1 lead with goals by Ella Freemon and Casidy Keykal and then went back ahead 3-2 on a Maeve Miller goal with just four seconds remaining in the first quarter on an exquisitely executed clear, featuring an Anderson assist.
 
The Mavs then went ahead 4-2 just 95 seconds into the second quarter on Anderson's goal before the Lakers were able to tie the game on free position shot goals from Emerson Holthouser and Rothe in the second half of the second quarter.
 
The game was tied at four at the break, before the Lakers won the first four draw controls of the second half, converting for goals on each possession to build an 8-4 lead before the Mavs had the ball in the third quarter.
 
The Lakers then added another goal over six minutes later and tallied two to begin the fourth, building 11-4 lead.
 
The Mavs then scored three of the next four in a span of just 3:21 to slice the deficit to 12-7 before the Lakers added two in the waning moments to complete the scoring.
 
The Mavericks were whistled for 27 fouls and six yellow cards throughout the contest as the Lakers were able to convert on five of ten free position shot attempts.
 
CMU was just 1-for-2.
 
The Mavs did finish with a 15-10 advantage in draw controls, including a 7-2 edge in the fourth quarter although the Lakers out-shot the Mavs, 29-26 while claiming 23 groundballs, eight more than the Mavs.
 
Ali Bryant recorded seven of those draw controls while Caroline Ohngemach added four.
 
Devon Morris also added her first goal of the season for CMU while Saide Chappuis led the CMU defense with three caused turnovers and three groundballs.
 
Heather Hawkins went the distance in net, recording seven saves while Kayln Cater and Sarah Krause each played a half in goal for the Lakers, combining for six.
 
The Mavericks will now prepare for the start of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play and will take on another nationally-ranked squad and perennial RMAC power Regis next Friday (Mar. 14) at 5 p.m. in Denver. 
 
The Lakers will also face the Rangers this Sunday before returning home to Michigan.