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Mackenzie Lawler
Mackenzie Lawler capped off her fifth season at the helm of the women's lacrosse program following the completion of the 2022-23 school year, as she has posted a record of 64 wins and 14 losses. Grand Valley State Director of Athletics, Keri Becker, announced the hiring of Lawler as the new head coach of the Lakers' women's lacrosse program on July 10, 2018. Lawler becomes the second head coach in Laker lacrosse history.
Under Lawler's tutelage, six Lakers have earned All-American honors from the IWLCA, 24 Lakers have earned regional honors from the IWLCA, while 44 have earned All-GLIAC honors.
The 2023 season saw the Lakers make their longest run in the NCAA Tournament in program history, making it to the Final Four after winning their first Midwest Regional crown. GVSU went 16-5 this season, sweeping the GLIAC regular season and conference tournament crowns for the third consecutive season. Qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in the history of the program, the Lakers took down the top two seeds in the region en route to the Regional title. Molly Bursinger was named First-Team All-American by the IWLCA, while Maddy Champagne earned Second-Team honors. Seven Lakers were named All-Region players by the IWLCA, and 10 players earned All-GLIAC honors. Finishing out the year ranked number five in the IWLCA rankings, GVSU earned their highest ranking ever, and they were ranked the entire season, with four weeks inside the top-10.
The Lakers enjoyed their most successful season during 2022, winning a program record 19 games, and making the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. GVSU won their second consecutive GLIAC regular season and conference tournament championships, going undefeated in league play for the second straight season. Molly Bursinger earned IWLCA First-Team All-American honors, while Sophie Conroy was named to the IWLCA Second Team All-American team and Leigha Johnson earned IWLCA Third-Team All-American honors. Eight Lakers were named to the IWLCA All-Region team and 12 players received All-GLIAC honors. The Lakers reached as high as number seven in the IWLCA rankings, the highest in team history, and finished the year ranked eighth, which was the highest ranking to end the season in program history.
In the 2021 season, the Lakers finished 12-2 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the GLIAC. The Lakers were not only crowned GLIAC regular season champions, but defeated Davenport 20-15 to win the post-season GLIAC Championship title. Senior Anna Gritter earned IWLCA Second Team All-American honors and sophomore Molly Bursinger received IWLCA Third Team All-American honors. Six players earned IWLCA All-Region honors, while 12 players received All-GLIAC accolades.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was cut short, but the Lakers posted a 3-1 record that includes a win over No. 3, Lindenwood. Senior Abbi O'Neal was named to the Inside Lacrosse Women's DII Media All-America First Team with 21 points (17 goals, 4 assists). GVSU ended the season as the No. 10 team in the country in the final IWLCA DII Coaches Poll.
The 2019 season saw the Lakers go 14-4 overall, including a 10-1 mark in GLIAC play and an appearance in the GLIAC Tournament championship. The team ranked second in the conference in goals against average (7.14) and goals per game (16.83). Carly Shisler, Abbi O'Neal and Elizabeth Yeomans all earned IWLCA regional honors while ten earned All-GLIAC accolades. Shisler was named GLIAC Midfielder of the Year and was also honored with the opportunity to play in the IWLCA Senior All-Star Game.
Prior to joining the Lakers, she most recently spent four seasons as the first assistant coach at Central Michigan University, helping to launch the newly formed Chippewa lacrosse program. During her time at CMU, Lawler served as offensive coordinator as well as coordinator of recruiting, camps and film. In her final season at Central Michigan, the Chippewas held the tenth-best shooting percentage (47.8%) in Division I.
Lawler has also built one of the premier youth lacrosse programs in the state of Michigan. She founded Michigan Elite in 2011, serving as the administrator and head coach of a program that has grown to a staff of 10 coaches and over 150 athletes spread across seven teams; five in her hometown of Okemos and two in Grand Rapids. She graduated from Robert Morris University in 2014, where she was a three-year starter in the Division I Colonials' midfield and amassed 35 goals, 21 assists, 38 ground balls, 27 draw controls and 21 caused turnovers. During her collegiate career, Lawler also spent time as a youth and high school coach in both her home state and in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area where RMU is located.
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