INDIANAPOLIS – The first week and change of men’s lacrosse competition in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference caught the attention of several national polls as the league continues establish ground in the South Region.
 
Associate league members Mercyhurst, Seton Hill and Walsh, were all in action during a historical Week 1 for the new seven-team sponsored G-MAC sport.
 
Three different G-MAC schools officially improved their stock from the initial preseason polls.
 
Mercyhurst (1-0, 0-0 G-MAC) went on the road and beat No. 10 Belmont Abbey, a tough environment for a season opener in South Carolina. The Lakers used a four-goal effort from Kurtis Woodland and strong play in the net from keeper Matt Wells to get the Lakers out of the gates with a 1-0 start.
 
Mercyhurst is now ranked fourth in both the USILA/NIKE Coaches Poll and US Lacrosse Magazine Coaches Poll. The Lakers were ranked ninth, respectively, before the start of the regular season.
 
Seton Hill (0-1, 0-0 G-MAC) made a small jump as well after the Griffins proved they were up to the challenge and then some against Limestone, the 2016 NCAA Championship finalist with LeMoyne. Limestone was 21-1 a year ago, but SHU fought to a more than respectable 10-9 final.
 
The Griffins were up late in the in the third period, 9-7, on a goal from John Hofseth before the Saints put up three unanswered goals in the final frame to complete their improbable rally.
 
Seton Hill is now ranked sixth in both polls mentioned above. The Griffins started the year at ninth.
 
Awaiting their spring debut is the Lake Erie Storm who head on the road to face Belmont Abbey on Saturday. The Storm are currently ranked 11th and 10th in each poll before their season opener.
 
Walsh (0-1, 0-0 G-MAC) fell to Molloy in the Cavaliers’ first game of 2017 while Ohio Valley (1-0, 0-0 G-MAC) was off to a fast start in a high-scoring affair, posting the program’s first opening-day win against a Division II opponent vs. District of Columbia earlier this week.