The Oakland University women’s lacrosse team has built up some momentum after a pair of decisive wins last week against Eastern Michigan University and perennial rival Central Michigan University.

In Thursday’s game, after a sloppy opening half for the Lady Grizzlies, the team made some adjustments and won easily, 19-6, on a very windy day at Troy High School. Senior Ashley Krisfalusi and junior Desiree Messina both scored six times, while sophomore Chelsey Booth added three more.

While head coach Towbey Kassa was not pleased with the team’s first half, he was somewhat happier with how the team responded after the break.

“The first half they didn’t execute their plays, their transition and we turned the ball over a couple of times,” Kassa said. “We put up 12 in the second half and the transition was awesome. I think we flustered their defense because we were able to sneak girls behind and get those feeds to Ashley.”

Sunday’s game was on the road at Mount Pleasant against Central Michigan, a team that Oakland had knocked out of the playoffs during last year’s run. With Central Michigan moving to Div. I and out of OU’s conference, the game has lost some significance, but the rivalry remains heated.

In a close, hard-fought game, Oakland defeated CMU 8-7 on a goal scored by Vikki Wallace with about 30 seconds to play.  The Chippewas had tied the game with a minute left, but Oakland controlled the draw that led to Wallace’s heroic goal.

Oakland’s next opponent will be Saginaw Valley State on Thursday night in another tune-up before its scheduled Lonestar Showdown in Austin the following week. At that event they will play two Div. I teams, the University of Texas and the University of Arizona, as well as two Div. II teams,  Southern Methodist University and Texas A&M University.

Once back from Austin, the Lady Grizzlies will have another huge test in Troy against another team looking for revenge on OU from last year – Michigan State University. The Lady Grizzlies defeated the Spartans 13-10 in what was one of the biggest upsets in the Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association last year, and the loss severely hurt MSU’s chances of going to the National Championships in Scottsdale.

The Lady Grizzlies’ continued success has garnered them attention from college lacrosse coaches from all over the country, as in the latest poll they are ranked No. 15 in the nation in Div. II.  At the end of the season, teams that are ranked in the top eight typically receive invitations for the National Championship, which is held in Scottsdale, Ariz. from May 4-7.