NMU Lacrosse Team Earns GLIAC Split Downstate

Stories, photos courtesy of NMU Sports Information

The Northern Michigan University women's lacrosse team won one and lost one in a GLIAC series in the Grand Rapids area over the weekend. NMU lost to Grand Valley State, 16-8, on Friday, then beat Davenport, 15-5, on Sunday. 

SUNDAY'S GAME RECAP

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –
The NMU lacrosse team traveled to Davenport University for its third GLIAC matchup of the season. The Wildcats were fueled by ten unanswered goals from the second quarter through the fourth to build a lead and defeat the Panthers, 15-5. 

Minnie BittellKaitlyn BridgerTaylor Priestley, and Clara Johnson each netted a hat trick. Hannah Melander was stout in net, making eight saves for a .615 save percentage. Natalie McGinnis led in assists with three and Johnson while six shots on goal.

The Wildcats took the lead in the first quarter with the game's first goal being made by Kaitlyn Bridger. Only a couple minutes later, Bridger struck again with the assistance of Minnie Bittell. A Panther goal was scored but the 'Cats maintained the lead as Clara Johnson was able to add another tally to the scoreboard. The quarter ended with Northern having a two-goal edge on Davenport at 3-1.

A tally from the Panthers started off the second quarter along with a small game of back-and-forth. Dayna Carlson kicked off the scoring in the second for the Wildcats, followed by the Panthers' Kylie Pettus adding one for her side. Maddi Bast found a free-position shot and took it, which was reciprocated by another goal from DU. As the first half started to wind down, NMU got the last three to lead 8-4 at the break. 

The third quarter was dominated by the Green and Gold. Taylor Priestley initiated the trend and was followed by Johnson, Bridger, and Bittell, before it went full-circle back to Priestley. The third quarter ended with the 'Cats up by nine with a score of 13-4.

Priestley took the first shot once again for the final quarter and found the net for her third, with the assist by Bridger. Johnson struck a third time herself and put the 'Cats up 15-4. One last goal was made by Davenport's Gabby Basha before the clock ran out. NMU got the road victory 15-5. 

FRIDAY'S GAME RECAP

ALLENDALE, Mich. –
The NMU lacrosse team traveled to Grand Valley State University, its fourth stop of the road series and second GLIAC matchup this season. The Lakers maintained a strong lead throughout the game and finished with an eight point victory over the Wildcats with a score of 16-8.

The most goals scored for the Wildcats came from Minnie Bittell with a solid six. Kaitlyn Bridger and Taylor Priestley each contributed one point to the score. Bittell also had the most shots on goal with nine.

Kicking off the game was a draw control made by the Wildcats before the Lakers staked their claim on the field and netted three. Minnie Bittell scored the first point for NMU with Kaitlyn Bridger following behind minutes later. Two more goals were made by GVSU before the end of the quarter, putting the Lakers in the lead at 5-2.

The second quarter started with another point made by Bittell, assisted by Bridger. Three more points were then added to the Lakers' score, two of which were made by Maddy Champagne. As the teams headed into the second half, the Wildcats were down by five at 8-3.

GVSU maintained its lead throughout the third quarter, gaining two more points before Bittell made her third of the game for a hat trick. With another three points earned for the Lakers, Bittell managed to strike again before the clock ran out. Making their way into the final quarter, the Lakers remained in the lead at 13-5.

After Maddy Champagne and Zoe Ziegler scored three more goals for GVSU, the 'Cats were able to add three to close out the game. The first came from Taylor Priestley which was assisted by Bittell, and the next two were made single-handedly by Bittell. The game ended with the Wildcats falling short to the Lakers at 16-8.
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