ALLENDALE, Mich. – Just like that, the No. 12 UIndy women's lacrosse team will compete for its first conference championship in just the program's third season.
 
The Greyhounds, now 15-3 on the season after defeating No. 23 Tiffin in the semifinals on Friday night at Grand Valley Lacrosse Stadium, will be the home team on the scoreboard on Sunday once again after fourth-seeded McKendree put 27 goals on host Grand Valley State in the first semifinal of the day. McKendree will be aiming for back-to-back GLIAC titles.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the first time in the teams' three games this season, the Greyhounds grabbed the first goal of the game. Delaney Davidson put the Hounds on the scoreboard first, and two minutes later senior Anna Rulapaugh found the back of the cage for a multi-goal lead.
 
After Tiffin responded with a score of its own, Abigail Lagos and Cara Brown each netted a goal. Lauryn Hardoy became the fifth Hound to score of the half with 15:30 on the clock, while Rulapaugh was the first Greyhound to cage two a couple minutes later.
 
It looked like the game might stay at 6-4 in favor of UIndy before Tiffin quickly tied the game with goals within 35 seconds of each other. Lagos and Hardoy answered with each of their second goals of the game soon after, but the Dragons took advantage of some whistles with under a minute left to knot the game at eight heading into the half.
 
The Greyhounds needed to come out hot in the second half, and that they did, scoring the first four goals out of the break, including Brown twice. Destinie Katz, who didn't play the first half, impacted the game immediately, assisting on two of those scores, and caging one herself after a Dragons' goal at 23:52.
 
Tiffin would get within two as late as the 6:31 mark, but the Hounds sealed it with another Davidson goal with under five minutes left. Keeper Irene Carlquist, who entered the game in the second half for starter Lauren Granville, made seven saves, including two off a free-position attempt with a minute left to keep the Greyhounds at 16-14.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The win is the 15th victory of the season for UIndy, which is already building on several program records this season. Sunday marks the first time the Greyhounds will compete for a GLIAC championship in just their third season.
 
Irene Carlquist's seven saves is tied for the third-most in a game this season, and has now stopped 15 shots the Dragons have put on goal against the junior in 2018.
 
GLIAC Freshman of the Year Lauryn Hardoy showed why she was voted as the top rookie by the coaches, scoring four times in the semifinal victory. The Granite Bay, Calif. native has now scored at least three times in each game dating back to April 6, when she scored twice.
 
Abigail Lagos has now scored 15 times in the past three games, while Anna Rulapaugh now has a nine-game scoring streak. Rulapaugh's first goal of the night made her the program's all-time leading goal scorer, adding on to her career assists and points total for the Crimson and Grey.

Defender Trisha Koning picked up a game-high four ground balls in the win, while 2018 GLIAC Defender of the Year Riley McClure earned 10 wins on the draw, while causing two turnovers. Erika Mayette also had two caused turnovers, while Peyton Romig secured six draw controls.
 
HOUND BYTES
Head coach James Delaney on the victory over Tiffin
"It was an emotional rollercoaster and we knew that going in. We already had two tough games against Tiffin in the regular season, and they were phenomenal; they have a phenomenal program and are a well-coached team. We knew we were going to have to play a full 60 minutes and grind it out to get the victory today."
 
On the second half and the goalie change
"Irene played hero today. Some days it's Granville, and some days it's Irene. We ask a lot of the 30 players, including the goalkeepers, and Irene stepped up and made some huge saves for us."
 
On going to the conference championship game in just the program's third season
"I'm just really happy for our 30 players. They've put in a ton of work; they've shot a lot on their own, they've ran a lot on their own, they worked out a ton on their own, and it's their hard work that makes me incredibly happy for them to get the opportunity to hopefully put on a ring after."
 
Junior Irene Carlquist on the second-half substitution
"It's really great. Coming into the second half, I knew it was basically 0-0 with the score tied up. It was a real team effort and I knew I had to put my part in and my team would do their part."
 
On her mindset on the final free-position shot
"It was after Trisha Koning got injured. Our team is so protective of one another that I knew I had to make that save for her."
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds will wear white again on Sunday afternoon when they play McKendree at Grand Valley Lacrosse Stadium. The GLIAC title game is scheduled for 12 p.m.