The Eagles are moving on.

On Thursday (May 7), the Ashland University women's lacrosse team traveled to Indianapolis, Ind., to take on the Grand Valley State Lakers in the opening round of the NCAA Division II tournament.

The Eagles, coming in as the No. 5 seed, were able to top the No. 4-seeded Lakers, 12-9. It's the second time the Eagles beat the Lakers this season, as in Allendale, Mich., earlier this year, they pulled off a 19-11 victory.
 
Both teams brought a 12-game winning streak into Thursday's contest – with the Eagles improving theirs to 13 after the first NCAA postseason win in program history.

In the close-knit affair on Thursday, the Eagles began with an Ashley Drexler goal, with Tori Wanat assisting her. That goal was scored just 1:17 into the game, setting the tone early. From there, Rachel Crumbacher extended the lead to two.

Grand Valley State answered moments later, though, with three straight goals to end the first quarter and took a 4-2 lead early into the second.

The Eagles then erupted offensively, as Lily Cain and Nataley Blackburn scored back-to-back goals to tie the game before Wanat scored twice more. Ashley Fisher added a goal and Wanat closed the half with another man-up score to send the Eagles into halftime ahead, 8-5.

Out of the break, in response, the Lakers put up four unanswered goals, including three straight man-up scores, to reclaim a 9-8 advantage entering the final period.

With its back up against the wall, Ashland answered immediately in the fourth.

Wanat tied the contest just 1:26 into the quarter before Crumbacher gave the Eagles the lead for good only 13 seconds later. Fisher added another free-position goal midway through the quarter, and Drexler sealed the victory with a man-up goal in the final minute.

Leading the way offensively, Wanat finished with four goals and two assists, while Crumbacher followed closely behind with two goals and three assists. In net, Annie Duncan made 13 saves for the Eagles.

The victory for Ashland (16-4) pushes it onto the second round, where the Eagles will face the No. 3-ranked University of Indianapolis. The two sides will clash on Saturday (May 9) at 1 p.m.