Grand Rapids, Mich. — The early portion of the 2026 season has been about growth for Aquinas Women's Lacrosse. Hard lessons. Tough opponents. Measured progress. And on Monday evening at the AQ Athletic Field, the Saints got an up-close look at the standard it takes to compete at the very top of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. The Blue Devils of Lawrence Tech — a perennial contender in the WHAC and the NAIA — showed exactly why they carry that reputation.
Lawrence Tech 21, Aquinas 2
From the opening draw, the pace and precision of Lawrence Tech set the tone. The Blue Devils struck quickly and built a 9–0 lead after the first quarter, capitalizing on transition opportunities and controlling possessions. Aquinas battled for draws early, with Sophia Davis and Audrianna Lienhart working tirelessly at the circle, but sustained offensive pressure proved difficult to generate against an aggressive LTU defense.
Freshman goalkeeper Samaya Dean got the start in net and was immediately put under fire. Dean recorded five saves in her 30 minutes of action and continued to compete despite facing a steady barrage of shots. Emersyn Gaitan entered in the second half and added three saves of her own, showing poise and toughness as the Saints searched for momentum.
Defensively, Ayiana Pansang-Rangel and Vanessa Bailey were active on ground balls and clears, trying to steady the possession game. Mya Chickering and Lucy Dusseau-Thompson absorbed difficult matchups throughout the evening, while Emma Dale and Lorelei Weinrick logged key minutes as Coach Marvin Hardy rotated bodies in search of rhythm and energy. Addison Munn, Devyn Shenk, Violet Mead, and Ellie Wallace also saw action as the Saints continued building depth and experience against elite competition.
Offensively, opportunities were limited, but the Saints never stopped pressing. Aquinas generated five total shots on the evening, three of which were on goal. Sophomore attacker Maizie Holmes provided a spark in the fourth quarter, scoring both AQ goals. Her first came unassisted midway through the final frame — a determined individual effort that broke up the shutout. Later, Holmes found the back of the net again off a sharp feed from Sophia Davis with 1:33 remaining, a glimpse of the chemistry this young group continues to develop.
Holmes finished with three shots and four draw controls, while Davis added an assist and contributed in transition. Though turnovers and clearing struggles proved costly against Lawrence Tech's pressure, the Saints continued to compete until the final whistle. And while the scoreboard was lopsided, the lesson was clear: this is the benchmark. This is the level. And now the Saints know exactly what they're chasing.
For a program in its growth phase under Coach Hardy, nights like this aren't about hiding from the result — they're about responding to it.
Inside the Numbers
• 2 — Goals scored by Maizie Holmes, accounting for both AQ tallies
• 8 — Combined saves by Samaya Dean (5) and Emersyn Gaitan (3)
• 9 — Draw controls secured by the Saints, led by Holmes and Davis
• 23 — Turnovers committed under Lawrence Tech's defensive pressure
• 4 — Shot clock violations caused by the AQ Defense in the 4th quarter.
Coach's Comments
After the game, Head Coach Marvin Hardy emphasized perspective and progress.
"We're not where we want to be yet — and tonight showed us that clearly," Hardy said. "But I see growth every single day. We're young in spots, we're building a new standard, and games like this expose weaknesses — but they also reveal who's willing to respond. This can't discourage us. It has to sharpen us. If we want to compete with the best in this conference, this is the level we're chasing. Now it's on us to close that gap."
Up Next
The Saints get Tuesday off before returning to the AQ Athletic Field on Wednesday for a 6:00 p.m. start as they host the Koalas of Columbia College. The game will be streamed live on the AQ YouTube Network, with Joey Sutherlin on the call.
Don't miss out on any of the AQ athletic happenings. Stay up to date on all the action by regularly visiting AQSaints.com for full coverage, stats, and postgame recaps.
Saints March On.
