By NoontimeSports.com

The first two weeks of the 2022 NCAA Division III lacrosse season are in the books.

Perhaps most exciting story of the young season is the Grove City College men’s lacrosse team, which scored a pair of impressive wins this past weekend against Colorado College and Rhodes College.

Both wins were highlighted by an offense led by Brett Gladstone, who tallied 13 points on eight goals and five assists on 23 shots, including 15 shots on goal.

Zachary Hougan added 11 points on eight goals and three assists while Grant Evans won 28 of 41 face-offs.

Saturday’s opening day win against the Lynx was certainly impressive, but perhaps the Red and White’s best showing of the weekend came one day later with an eight-goal win against a Tigers squad that advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last May.

Gladstone highlighted the Wolverines’ win against Colorado College with nine points on seven goals and two assists while goalie Jack Petit recorded nine saves.

The Wolverines led the Tigers, 13-6, at the break before tacking on nine more goals during the final 30 minutes, including six in the final session.

Grove City entered the 2022 season with high expectations after winning 35 of 51 contests over the last four seasons, including two Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) titles. The Wolverines have competed in the NCAA postseason twice, but have yet to record their first tournament win in program history (Grove City has lost back-to-back opening-round games to Cabrini University and SUNY Maritime).

Following an impressive start to the 2022 season, coach Alec Jernstedt tweeted the following: “This weekend was big for the story of our program and our guys. They’ve had an unrelenting belief and work ethic for (five) seasons now and got their first win over a ranked opponent. I know (it’s) just the start and I can’t wait to see what they do next. Love this team.”

The Wolverines will be idle this week but will return to action next Saturday, February 26 when they visit Baldwin Wallace University.

Salisbury women’s lacrosse extends its winning streak

Make it 21-straight victories for the Salisbury University women’s lacrosse team, which scored an opening day victory over Stevenson University on Saturday.

Salisbury, which won the NCAA Division III championship last May, has not lost a game since falling to Gettysburg College on March 11, 2020.

Erin Scannell and Delaney Hill each recorded hat tricks in the win while Mary Claire Hisle turned aside seven of 12 shots in the Sea Gulls’ ten goals (15-5) victory over the Mustangs.

Caroline Murphy led Stevenson with four goals on eight shots to go with one caused turnover.

As a team, the Sea Gulls registered 10 ground balls, completed 18 of 19 clears, and fired 38 shots.

Salisbury will visit Catholic University on Saturday, February 19. Like the Sea Gulls, the Cardinals secured a spot on 2022 Inside Lacrosse/Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) preseason poll after concluding its 2021 season with a 10-1 record.

Extra, extra:

• Salisbury’s Cross Ferrara has been named to the 2022 Tewaaraton Award Watch List.  
  
  
• RPI women’s lacrosse has announced its four captains for the upcoming season: Alli McLaughlin, Lily Murphy, Christina Rogers, and Sabrina Torcellini.
  
  
• The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s lacrosse team scored a pair of wins over Colorado College and Rhodes College this past weekend, thanks to Gage Black and Rick Smith.
  
  
• Helen Kennedy-Butler tallied four goals and three assists as Virginia Wesleyan University topped Methodist University on Sunday by a score of 13-10. With the win, the Marlins have now beaten the Monarchs in three of five meetings.
  
  
• The Catholic men’s lacrosse team scored their first win over a ranked opponent last Saturday.
  
  
• Will Hubbs and David Caldwell combined for 10 goals and four assists as the Centre College men’s lacrosse team scored an opening-day win over Wittenberg University.