This story was written by NMU Sports Information
ALLENDALE, Mich. – The NMU lacrosse team claimed its first ever postseason victory when it took on the Concordia St. Paul Golden Bears, winning with a score of 15-11. Minnie Bittell was the leader for the 'Cats, tying her single game record with six goals on seven shots, and setting her career-high single game point record with nine.
Katelyn Mongold and Maddi Bast both had three goals on five shots on goal, Kaitlyn Bridger recorded two goals herself along with leading the field in draw controls (10), Heather Beebe led the way with four ground balls, and Hannah Melander made eleven saves on 22 shots for a solid .500 SV%.
As a team, the Wildcats had 40 shots to CSP's 23, 23 ground balls to CSP's 17, and possessed 16 draw controls to CSP's 14.
The first goal of the game was made by the Golden Bears, but Minnie Bittell was able to follow it up with a free position goal to even the score. Three more goals were scored by CSP to take a 4-1 leads before Katelyn Mongold cut the lead to two. With less than a minute left in the first quarter, Maddi Bast capitalized on an opportunity to make a free position shot, and the quarter ended with the 'Cats down by one by a score of 4-3.
The second quarter began with Kaitlyn Bridger tying up the score with Mongold tacking one more on to retake the lead. The Golden Bears would go on another run, adding three points of its own to put them in the lead by two points. Another netting was made by Bittell which was followed by CSP's Meghan McGowan.
Bittell then struck for a third time, earning a hat trick, despite the team being a man down. Madi Bast was able to do it again and add another point with a minute to spare. As the teams headed into the second half, the score was knotted at eight points a piece.
The Wildcats came back from halftime better than ever. Only four points were made in the third quarter and they all came from NMU. Bittell netted another free position shot, then Mongold was able to earn her third goal of the game and put the 'Cats in the lead by two. With less than three minutes remaining, Dayna Carlson netted her first of the evening, followed closely by Bittell's fifth goal.
The fourth quarter kicked off with the Wildcats leading by four points with a score of 12-8. Not even a minute into the quarter, Bridger tacked on her second goal of the game. Bittell came back for more and added another tally to the score. The Golden Bears weren't going away quietly as goals from Anna Fisher, Sydney Smith, and Lauren Sheets brought the Golden Bears within three before Madi Bast closed out the game with another point for the Wildcats, earning the team another victory with a final score of 15-11.
ALLENDALE, Mich. – The NMU lacrosse team claimed its first ever postseason victory when it took on the Concordia St. Paul Golden Bears, winning with a score of 15-11. Minnie Bittell was the leader for the 'Cats, tying her single game record with six goals on seven shots, and setting her career-high single game point record with nine.
Katelyn Mongold and Maddi Bast both had three goals on five shots on goal, Kaitlyn Bridger recorded two goals herself along with leading the field in draw controls (10), Heather Beebe led the way with four ground balls, and Hannah Melander made eleven saves on 22 shots for a solid .500 SV%.
As a team, the Wildcats had 40 shots to CSP's 23, 23 ground balls to CSP's 17, and possessed 16 draw controls to CSP's 14.
The first goal of the game was made by the Golden Bears, but Minnie Bittell was able to follow it up with a free position goal to even the score. Three more goals were scored by CSP to take a 4-1 leads before Katelyn Mongold cut the lead to two. With less than a minute left in the first quarter, Maddi Bast capitalized on an opportunity to make a free position shot, and the quarter ended with the 'Cats down by one by a score of 4-3.
The second quarter began with Kaitlyn Bridger tying up the score with Mongold tacking one more on to retake the lead. The Golden Bears would go on another run, adding three points of its own to put them in the lead by two points. Another netting was made by Bittell which was followed by CSP's Meghan McGowan.
Bittell then struck for a third time, earning a hat trick, despite the team being a man down. Madi Bast was able to do it again and add another point with a minute to spare. As the teams headed into the second half, the score was knotted at eight points a piece.
The Wildcats came back from halftime better than ever. Only four points were made in the third quarter and they all came from NMU. Bittell netted another free position shot, then Mongold was able to earn her third goal of the game and put the 'Cats in the lead by two. With less than three minutes remaining, Dayna Carlson netted her first of the evening, followed closely by Bittell's fifth goal.
The fourth quarter kicked off with the Wildcats leading by four points with a score of 12-8. Not even a minute into the quarter, Bridger tacked on her second goal of the game. Bittell came back for more and added another tally to the score. The Golden Bears weren't going away quietly as goals from Anna Fisher, Sydney Smith, and Lauren Sheets brought the Golden Bears within three before Madi Bast closed out the game with another point for the Wildcats, earning the team another victory with a final score of 15-11.
