INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 5 UIndy women's lacrosse team put the nation on notice on Saturday after taking down the No. 1 team in the country, Tampa.

The Greyhounds knocked off Tampa, 10-6, in Saturday's season opener at Key Stadium. Malaena Michielin netted a hat trick with an assist, while the senior duo of Ella Fornek and Olivia Bladon tallied three points apiece.

Along with stellar attacking play, the Greyhounds also got a standout performance in goal from Ava Graham who stopped nine shots, which is the 12th time she's recorded at least nine saves in a game in her three-year Greyhound career.

This is the third time in program history that the Greyhounds have taken down the top ranked team, and it's the first time they've done so at Key Stadium. The last time the Hounds took down number one was in 2023 against Le Moyne in a No. 1 versus No. 2 match up. Current head coach Peyton Romig scored a goal in that 11-10 Greyhound win.
 

For the third time in program history the Hounds knocked off the top ranked team in the country ???? pic.twitter.com/L3DhhjZKCC

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) February 14, 2026

INS & OUTS
The No. 5 Greyhounds came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, taking a commanding 7-1 lead after the first two quarters of action. The freshman Reese Fahlke netted her first career goal for the Greyhounds just 19 seconds into the game, while Michielin captured a first half hat trick, and Bladon and Emily Ghazal found a goal each.
 

REESE FAHLKE with the first goal of the season ?? pic.twitter.com/BtWnClPP4s

— UIndyWLax (@UIndyWLax) February 14, 2026

UIndy had the task of slowing down USA Lacrosse Preseason Player of the Year in Peyton Howell, and did just that. Amanda Hurry and company held Howell to only her 12th game as a Spartan without a goal. And as a team held the Spartans scoreless for over 29 minutes after the team's opening goal in the first quarter.

Tampa found its way back into the game with a four goal third quarter to cut the Hounds' 7-1 lead down to four, but Fornek and Ghazal both snagged two more goals for the Greyhounds in the fourth quarter to push UIndy's lead back out to four with six minutes to go.

The Greyhounds were able to churn the clock with three saves from Graham and three caused turnovers, including a turnover each from Mariah Whitfield and Michielin, to secure the Hounds' first victory of the 2026 campaign.

INSIDE THE BOX
- Graham added a .600 save percentage to her impressive day with nine saves.
- Michielin finished the day with four points, five shots, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers.
- Fahlke collected three draw controls in her first game in Crimson and Grey.
- Bladon has 45 career games with at least three points, recording two goals and an assist.

UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will now head south for a date with Florida Southern on Friday Feb. 21, a team the Greyhounds last beat in 2020.