ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Roberts Wesleyan College women's lacrosse team is off to an impressive start this season and the No. 15 Redhawks (9-0) will face their toughest opponent of the regular season when they host No. 11 Grand Valley State (8-1) at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Here are six things to know heading into the game:

1. REDHAWKS HAVE POTENT OFFENSE

Roberts ranks first in NCAA Division II in scoring offense (19.33 goals per game), assists per game (11.11) and points per game (30.44) and second in shot percentage (.596) and free position shot percentage (.623). The Redhawls also rank fifth in scoring margin (11.0).

2. GRAND VALLEY STATE HAS A STINGY DEFENSE

The Lakers have allowed only 50 goals in nine games and rank fifth in the nation in scoring defense (5.56). Junior goalkeeper Payton Neill ranks fifth in the country in goals against (6.02), having surrendered 34 goals over 338 minutes in eight games.

3. BELL, BRINKEL RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST  

Junior Madison Bell leads Roberts in scoring with 63 points (37 goals, 26 assists) and senior Lindsey Brinkel ranks second with 61 (21 goals and 40 assists). Brinkel, an Aquinas Institute graduate, leads Division II in assists per game (4.44)  and Bell ranks eighth (4.11). Bell, a Webster Thomas grad, ranks third in the nation in points per game (7.00) and Brinkel is fourth (6.78).

4. CHAMPAGNE IS FANTASTIC FRESHMAN

Maddy Champagne, who once scored 19 goals in a high school game, is off to a fast start in college. The Livonia, Mich., native leads the Lakers with 45 points (37 goals, 8 assists) and has already been named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week three times this season.

5. SIMILARITIES ABOUND

With one loss between them, the Redhawks and Lakers have a lot in common.Both are accurate on offense (Roberts has a .596 to .555 advantage in shot percentage), are efficient in scooping ground balls (Roberts has 205 on the season while Grand Valley has 198), clear the ball well (with Roberts holding a .848 to .813 edge in clear percentage) and win their share of draw controls (Roberts owns a .591 to .586 edge). Grand Valley does have an advantage in turnovers per game (11.33 to 17.00).

6. REDHAWKS SEEK FIRST WIN IN SERIES

The teams have played three times in the past with Grand Valley State prevailing each time. The Lakers defeated Roberts 10-5 in the most recent meeting, March 3, 2015. Grand Valley State enters Thursday's game on a five-game winning streak with its only loss this season coming to No. 3 Indianapolis, 9-7, on March 21.

Watch Thursday's game on the ECC Network. 

See the US Lacrosse weekly roundup on top teams in the country.