Upcoming in Gray Wolves Lacrosse: The Gray Wolves begin their spring break four-game road trip with a pair of matches against Hope and Cumberlands  (Ky.) this week. Lourdes will meet Hope on Saturday before traveling south for a neutral site affair against Cumberlands on Wednesday.
Head Coach Alyssa Shaver: In her second season on the Lourdes bench,
Alyssa Shaver has an 10-10 (.500) record at the helm of the Gray Wolves and as well as a collegiate head coach. Â She is just the second head coach in Lourdes program's history.
Series Notes: Lourdes will meet Hope and Cumberlands for the first time in program history his week.
Wrapping Up Last Week: Despite storming back from an 11-5 deficit and tying the game at 11-all in the Gray Wolves lone contest against Adrian last week, Lourdes fell for the third straight time.
Tiara Reed and
Ashley Hunt each netted four goals in the contest for Lourdes.
Scouting Hope: Hope suffered a 16-9 loss to North Central after opening the season with a 21-12 victory over NAIA-foe Cleary. Through the first two games this season, sophomore Carly Pieri leads the Dutch offensively with six goals and two assists for eight points. Four players are tied for second with four goals each. Pieri also leads the squad with a team-high nine ground balls in the first two games. Laurel Frederickson has served as the netminder for Hope during their first two contests, racking up 33 saves and posting a 14.00 goals against average.
Scouting Cumberlands: Cumberlands enters the contest winners of five of their first six contests this season. The Patriots have won their last two games by a combined score of 43-4. Prior to their matchup with Lourdes, Cumberlands will take on No. 10-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan and Columbia (S.C.). Through six games, Jaclyn Berry leads the nation with 34 goals scored while Samantha Tullar is second on the team, and sixth nationally, with 21 goals scored. Emily Heim currently leads the nation with 21 assists. Emily Crump and Emily Cabrera have split time in the goal this season. Crump leads the way with 34 saves while Cabrera boasts a position-best 4.33 goals against average.
On The Road: After dropping three straight home games at Wildcat Stadium, Lourdes takes back to the road for the first time since its matchup at Lindenwood-Bellville on February 17, where it picked up a 14-3 victory.
Playing NCAA Division III Schools: Lourdes has a brief history of playing NCAA Division III-foes in its first five years as a program. The Gray Wolves own a 3-3 record against NCAA Division III opponents. Lourdes has met Adrian, Alma, Baldwin Wallace, Heidelberg, Oberlin, and Ohio Northern in matchups against NCAA III competitors.
Approaching 100 Career Goals: Tiara Reed has scored 19 times already this season, giving her 99 for her career just five games into her junior season.  Her tally total thus far this year is tied for the ninth most of any NAIA player. Reed  currently ranks second in all three major career offensive categories (goals, assists and points).
Getting Back on Track: After opening the season with two victories on the road, the Gray Wolves have dropped their last three contests. Their current three-game skid is the longest since dropping three straight to nationally-ranked opponents to end the 2018 campaign.
It's Been A While: After playing their first five games of the season in a span of 11 days to open the season, Lourdes has been idle since and will take to the field for the first time in nine days on Saturday. Lourdes will also be opening the calendar month of March after playing its first five games in February.Â
This and That: With one more goal,
Tiara Reed will become just the second Gray Wolf in program history to notch 100 career goals ... the Gray Wolves are 7-14 all-time at Wildcat Stadium ... Lourdes is 13-14 all-time against opponents when meeting them for the first time ... Lourdes is 2-0 thus far this season when playing on the road.
