INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 12 UIndy women's lacrosse team (1-0) received huge offensive efforts from Grace Gunneson and Destinie Katz on Saturday, as the Greyhounds rolled to a 17-5 win over the visiting Findlay Oilers (0-1).
 
Katz finished with nine points, the redshirt-junior's second-highest total of her career. Her six assists is the fourth-most in program history for a single game, as she holds the top three totals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gunneson netted the team's first goal of the season just two minutes into the contest, and it was at that point the Hounds never looked back. Katz was involved in the next three Greyhound scores, including assists to Hannah Burczyk and Lauryn Hardoy.
 
Leading 8-2 with under a minute left in the opening half, Delaney Davidson and Peyton Romig quickly gave the Hounds double-digit goals to lead 10-2 at the break.
 
UIndy and Findlay traded a pair of goals to stop the running clock midway through the second half, but Gunneson scored three of the final five scores down the stretch to give the Greyhounds the 17-5 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Saturday marked the fourth time in Gunneson's career that she has scored at least five goals in a single game. It is also the second time the junior has done so against Findlay, with the last time coming during her freshman campaign in 2016.
 
Katz has been steadfast since her Greyhound debut last season, and is now up to 52 assists in 15 games after her six helpers against the Oilers. The Manorville, N.Y. product added three goals in the win on Saturday.
 
Lauryn Hardoy started where she left off last season, adding four points – all goals – in the win. The sophomore finished with 90 points as a rookie last season.
 
Freshman Cassidy King made her debut in goal on Saturday, stopping four-of-nine Findlay shots. Fellow rookie Julia O'Brien tallied her first-career goal in the win.
 
Reigning GLIAC Defender of the Year Riley McClure caused three Findlay turnovers, while also scooping up four ground balls. The junior added three wins on the draw, as did Darby Smith, who also caused three turnovers.
 
HOUND BYTES
Head coach James Delaney: "I'm really excited with the way we opened up this season with a win over a great Findlay program. I thought we were rock-solid defensively, and Grace and Lauryn proved why they're two of the best players in the country.
 
We want to sharpen up all-around. Some of our errors led to goals for them, and we just want to clean it up and make sure we're the best version of ourselves."
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds host Charleston next Saturday at 2 p.m. from Key Stadium. Last season, UIndy cruised to a 22-3 victory over the Golden Eagles.