ALLENDALE, Mich. – Football. Men's Soccer. Men's Swimming and Diving. Men's Indoor Track and Field. Men's Tennis. Men's Golf. Men's Lacrosse. Women's Golf.  
 
Now, Women's Lacrosse.
 
The UIndy women's lacrosse team won the athletic department's ninth conference title on Sunday afternoon at Grand Valley Lacrosse Stadium with a 21-13 win over McKendree. The victory marks the third time this season the Hounds defeated the 2017 champion Bearcats.
 
"Davidson!" was heard quite often on Sunday afternoon, as sophomore midfielder, Delaney Davidson, scored 10 times. Lauryn Hardoy, who scored twice on the afternoon, dished out five assists in the win. The Greyhounds had six scorers, all with at least two goals.
 
The Greyhounds are 16-3 this season after winning the GLIAC tournament and have earned a bid in the 2018 NCAA tournament as the third-seeded team in the Midwest region. The Hounds will play Regis at host Lindenwood, who earned hosting rights after completing an undefeated regular season. UIndy and Regis will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Friday in St. Charles, Mo. with the winner advancing to the quarterfinal round on Saturday to play Lindenwood at 4 p.m. ET.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead after just 2:43 with goals from Lauryn Hardoy and Davidson, the latter of which was the first of the sophomore's five first-half scores. Davidson scored the next two goals for UIndy before Abigail Lagos broke the 4-4 tie 35 seconds after McKendree knotted the score.
 
Davidson netted a free-position goal at the 14:18 mark, the only goal in the next six minutes for the Greyhounds as the Bearcats scored four unanswered to grab a two-goal lead. After Davidson scored her fifth of the half, Grace Gunneson found the back of the cage for the first time this weekend to even the game at eight apiece.
 
UIndy scored four of the next five, as well, before the half, with Destinie Katz and Abigail Lagos tallying goals for the Hounds. Cara Brown answered a Bearcats goal with two of her own in a span of 30 seconds, including a buzzer-beater to give the Hounds a three-goal advantage heading into the break.
 
It took over seven minutes before either team scored in the second half, but Davidson broke the silence for her sixth of the game. The lead began to swell thereafter, with Gunneson finding Davidson at the end of the shot clock, growing to five scores less than nine minutes into the half.
 
After being on the short end of the draw controls in the first half, UIndy secured the first four of the second period, leading to three goals. McKendree scored back-to-back goals around the midway mark to shrink the deficit to four.
 
The Greyhounds ran out the clock the final 15 minutes, outscoring the Bearcats, 6-2, the rest of the way. Hardoy found a wide-open Gunneson to score the team's 21st and final goal of the game. Head coach James Delaney was greeted with a Gatorade bath soon after, sealing the team's first conference championship in its third season of existence.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Delaney Davidson's 10 tallies is a program record, breaking her own from a couple weeks ago when she found the back of the cage nine times against Davenport. The sophomore scored five goals in each half against the Bearcats.
 
Darby Smith won seven draws on Sunday after Cara Brown took over the duties late in the first half. Brown secured three herself, while Riley McClure earned six. Brown also caused a game-high three turnovers.
 
Five Greyhounds earned all-tournament honors for the pair of weekend games, including Delaney Davidson as the Most Valuable Player. Davidson totaled 13 goals and two assists against Tiffin and McKendree to receive the top nod. Lauryn Hardoy racked up six goals and five assists over the weekend, including four scores in the semifinal against Tiffin. Three members of the defense earned all-tourney accolades, as well, with GLIAC Defender of the Year Riley McClure, honorable-mention recipient Darby Smith, and Lauren Wagner. The trio combined for four caused turnovers, seven ground balls, and 24 draw wins.

HOUND BYTES
Head coach James Delaney on winning the GLIAC title 
"I couldn't be happier for our 30 players. All the credit goes to them. We're not in this position without all the hard work these kids put in. I have to give a ton of credit to assistant coach Erin Abbott, our strength, and medical staff. Everyhone has done a phenomonal job and this is a byproduct of having one common goal."

On Davidson and her performance
"We're so lucky to have Delaney. She's a game-changer for us and without the offensive impact she had I don't think we're winning the GLIAC. She's a huge player; we expect a lot of her and she alwsys comes through in the clutch. She's one of the best midfielders in the country and deserving of All-American honors."

On winning it for Anna Rulapaugh, the team's lone senior
"What can you say about one senior on a team filled with underclassmen and the leadership she brings to the table. Anna is the most selfless player I've been around in my four years of coaching. She's team-first and always wants the best for the team. She took a lesser offensive role this season, but it was always team first. I'm so happy to send her out the right way with a conference championship and hopefully a NCAA berth."

Delaney Davidson on her mindset coming into the title game
"It was a team effort and we just wanted to play with heart and grit and just wanted to get it done."

On what it means to win a conference championship
"It's crazy. Coming in this semester, it was insane. We worked so hard to get here and the work paid off."

 Anna Rulapaugh on winning the GLIAC in her senior season
"This is a great oppportunity for our team. This is a perfect ending to my career and I can't wait to find out tonight if we advance to the NCAA tournament."

UP NEXT
The Greyhounds head to St. Charles, Mo. for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament this Friday and Saturday. Lindenwood earned hosting rights and will play the winner between UIndy and Regis on Saturday. The Hounds and Rangers will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Friday night from Hunter Stadium on the campus of Lindenwood.