UIndy Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women's lacrosse team is still dancing after its 22-9 thumping over Ashland to advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional Final. 

Today's win makes it the Greyhounds' fifth trip to the Midwest Regional final in the last six seasons, and the second straight year making an appearance as one of the final eight teams remaining.

The sensational freshman, Reese Fahlke, scored seven goals today which is the most by a Greyhound in an NCAA Tournament game in program history, and is tied for the most in a postseason contest (GLVC, GLIAC and NCAA Tournament) with Grace Gunneson in 2021. Fahlke's freshman campaign total now sits at 42, which makes her the fourth Greyhound this season to eclipse the 40 goal mark.

Along with Fahlke, UIndy combined for nine more goals from the Canadian duo of Malaena Michielin and Sage Da Silva, four from Michielin and five from Da Silva. The five goals from Da Silva is tied for her career-high in goals, a feat which she accomplished on three separate occasions last season against Northern Michigan, Lewis and William Jewell.

INS & OUTS
Today was the second time the Greyhounds and Eagles have faced off this year, and UIndy replicated its performance from earlier this season from the jump. The Greyhounds scored 12 goals in the first half, including all of Da Silva's five goals, and a hat trick from Fahlke. Ella Fornek, Elle Cimini and Malaena Michielin rounded out the first half goal scorers, with Cimini scoring a goal in her fourth consecutive game. 

On the defensive end, the No. 2-ranked defense in terms of goals allowed showcased why that is the case, holding Ashland to its second lowest goal total of the season with nine. The Greyhounds forced 17 turnovers, which matches its total it forced in the first meeting this season. 

First-team All-GLVC honoree Mariah Whitfield wreaked havoc on defense today, causing two turnovers and scooping up four ground balls, while holding Ashland's Rachel Crumbacher and Tori Wanat to only two goals and an assist. Crumbacher and Wanat combined for 106 goals and 68 goals this season for the Eagles.

The second half was much of the same for the Hounds, as they held the Eagles scoreless for over 17 minutes of action in the second half, and included five second half saves from recent IWLCA Player of the Week Ava Graham who had 11 on the day, her most in a game this season. The Hounds tacked on 10 more second half goals, invoking the 10-goal rule for the final 17 minutes of action to cement its spot in the regional final for the second straight year.

INSIDE THE BOX
- Da Silva eclipsed the 100 career assist mark as a Greyhound today with her two assists on Cimini and Michielin's goals.
- Hollis Rang snagged two ground balls today, bringing her career total as a Greyhound to 102, and good enough for fifth on the all-time record book.
- Alexa Versaci continued to display why she's one of the best feeders in the GLVC, adding another four assists to her name today, putting her at 66 in just two seasons at UIndy.

UP NEXT
UIndy and Maryville will square off for the fourth straight time in the NCAA Tournament next Saturday for a spot in the NCAA National Semifinals at 1 p.m. at Key Stadium. The Greyhounds have won both meetings against Maryville this season, and hold a 2-1 record over the Saints in the NCAA Tournament.