ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies begin their second week of the season following a pair of promising outings, splitting their opening games at home and on the road. Oakland hosts Mercyhurst and travels to Toledo this week.
Oakland sits at 0-1-1 after its first two contests, most recently playing to a 1-1 draw in the home opener against Valparaiso. Freshman
Brae Cole scored her first collegiate goal on a penalty kick. With improved offensive output, the Golden Grizzlies outshot Valpo 10-6 in the match.
Still searching for their first win of the season, Oakland is in a good position to pick one up this weekend against two other teams also seeking their first victories of 2025.
THURSDAY, AUG. 21 vs. MERCYHURST | 7 p.m.
The Golden Grizzlies play their second straight home match as they face the Lakers for the first time in program history. Mercyhurst enters the week 0-1-1 after a 1-1 draw in its season opener against Northern Kentucky (Aug. 14) and a 1-0 loss to UMBC (Aug. 17).
In 2024, the Lakers went 4-11-4 and struggled on the road with a 2-9-1 mark away from Erie, Pa. Despite a tough season, Mercyhurst tallied 29 goals and 91 shots on goal, placing more than half (.517) of its total shots on target. The Lakers return their second-leading scorer, Madison Sievering, who netted five goals last season.
Defensively, Mercyhurst faltered in 2024, allowing 56 goals, including eight matches where opponents scored three or more.
SUNDAY, AUG. 24 at TOLEDO | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Oakland returns to the road for its second MAC matchup of the season against Toledo.
The Golden Grizzlies and Rockets have been evenly matched historically, with Oakland holding a slight edge at 9-7 in the all-time series. The teams will meet for the fifth consecutive season, having split the last four matchups with two wins each.
Oakland has taken two of the last three meetings, including a 1-0 loss last season in a match where the Golden Grizzlies outshot the Rockets 15-13 in an offensive battle.
Toledo also enters the week winless at 0-1-1 after a 3-1 loss to Eastern Kentucky (Aug. 14) and a 1-1 draw with Cincinnati (Aug. 17). The Rockets pose a different threat than the Lakers, thriving on the defensive end. In 2024 they scored just 16 goals, but also gave up only 16 to their opponents.
