ST. PAUL, Minn. - This weekend, Concordia-St. Paul women's lacrosse (1-1) continues its tour of Great Lakes Valley (GLVC) conference territory into the Kansas City, Missouri area where they'll face Rockhurst on Friday at 4 p.m. before heading to Missouri Western State in St. Joseph, Missouri for a noon game on Sunday. The game marks the season opener for both opponents.

For Concordia, it will be the third and fourth games in a row against GLVC opposition, opening with a loss at home against defending national champion #8 Indianapolis on Saturday before picking up an 11-10 win at Quincy in Illinois on Sunday. Concordia is on games two and three of a nine-game road swing including five in a row at GLVC squads as the team's start to the season features six of the seven GLVC members.

Concordia's start to the season has seen six total goals from freshman Lauren Sheets, who was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week. Her weekend featured her first career goal against the defending national champion Greyhounds followed by a five-goal outburst at Quincy including the game winner with just over a minute and a half to play.

CSP's defense has been sparked by sophomore Meghan McGowan, who has five caused turnovers and four ground balls while freshman Claire Flahaven has made an immediate impact on the defensive end with a team-high six caused turnovers. Concordia's goalies, Candace McDole (11 saves) and Maddy Huebner (9 saves) have had a strong start, as well, with McDole holding up well against 34 shots faced in the opener while Huebner registered a save in the closing seconds at Quincy on a day when she faced 23 shots.

CSP's play in the middle features five draw controls from freshman Susie Monson, who adds two ground balls, two goals and an assist while freshman Kayleigh Nelson has four draw controls and a pair of assists.

Concordia is 4-0 against Rockhurst and 1-0 against Missouri Western. The Golden Bears have topped Rockhurst in 2017 and 2019 on the road before defeating the Hawks at home in 2020 and 2022. CSP and MWSU opened their all-time series last year with CSP prevailing 13-8 in the Concordia Dome at Sea Foam Stadium.

The Hawks were picked second in the GLVC preseason poll with 31 points and one first place vote after earning the third seed in the 2022 GLVC Tournament, finishing 10-7 overall and 5-2 in GLVC play. They return All-GLVC First Team performer Mackenzie Blair and All-GLVC Second Team players Logan Derosia and Dani Mabry.

The Griffons earned 22 points in the GLVC poll, third in the league, finishing fifth in the conference last year with an 8-9 overall record and 2-5 GLVC finish. They return All-GLVC Second Team perfomers Mackenzie Porter and Sam Pruitt along with GLVC honorable mention pick KC Ossello.