NORTH CANTON, Ohio - For just the second time in program history and first time since 2014, the Davenport women's lacrosse team has won its first six games of the season. Saturday, the Panthers took a break from GLIAC play to travel to Walsh for a 15-12 win over the Cavaliers in the two teams' first-ever meeting.

In Davenport's closest game of the season, only once did a team score more than two goals in a row and that was when the Panthers tallied the game's first three. Davenport responded with answer after answer to keep Walsh at arm's length throughout and three of the four occasions in which the Cavaliers scored back-to-back goals, the Panthers countered with consecutive scores of their own. Because of that, Walsh pulled within two once and within three six times, but never closer.

Five different players scored for the Panthers and each of them had one more goal than the next including Aaliyah Miller (5), Ryann Deuel (4), Anna Glynn (3), Brenna Knoll (2), and Reilly Noble (1). Assist wise, Maddy Haynes (2 assists) was the lone contributor with more than one, but was joined in that column by Deuel and Glynn. Defensively, Deuel and Monique Vale tied for the team lead in ground balls (3) while Vale and Christine Steffes each caused three turnovers.

The biggest individual highlight of the day may have come from Deuel who racked up 11 draw controls to put her over 400 for her career with 406. Deuel is far and away the program's all-time leader with nearly 200 more than the next-closest player.

In goal on Saturday, Grace DeRidder went the distance for the second time this season and first time since the season opener with a personal best seven saves.

Next up for Davenport is a road showdown with crosstown rival, No. 9 Grand Valley State (5-1), in a week with the start time set for 12 p.m.

Story by: Cooper Weidenthaler