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MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Northern Michigan University lacrosse team opened their 2022 season at home against Lindenwood University on Friday (Feb. 18), falling by a final score of 19-9 to the defending DII national champion Lions. 

1st Quarter
Lindenwood started out hot, scoring the first seven goals of the game. 

The 'Cats got their first tally of the game in the winding minutes of the first quarter when Madeline Bittell found teammate Natalie McGinnis who switched hands in front of the net and buried the Wildcats first goal of the season.

Less than a minute later, Maddi Bast snuck one past the goalkeeper on a free position shot to make it consecutive goals for NMU. 

Lindenwood led 7-2 after the first 15 minutes of action. 

2nd Quarter
Aleya Speas kept it rolling for the Green and Gold, bouncing one past the netminder to pull Northern within four. 

The Lions recorded the next four before Madeline Bittell buried her first on a free position shot with just less than six minutes to go in the opening half.

Lindenwood carried a 13-4 advantage at the half. 

3rd Quarter
The Lions pounced on the Wildcats early in the third quarter, scoring the first four in the frame. 

NMU got on the board with 3:54 on the clock, as Kaitlyn Bridger battled through a crowd and sniped one past the goalkeeper for her first.
 
The score read 17-5 Lindenwood with a quarter to play. 

4th Quarter
Madeline Bittell scored her second of the evening, tucking a snipe between the goalkeeper and the outside post to make it 17-6.

Moments later, Maddi Bast registered her second tally, marking the second time NMU struck quickly back-to-back in the game.

At 7:33, Emily Renfrew made it three straight for NMU, as she fired in her first score of the season. 

With a minute to go, Dayna Carlson fired one into the top corner for her first career goal, giving the Wildcats a nine goal game. 

The Wildcats fought hard and put up an impressive effort against the defending champions, but ultimately fell 19-9. 

NMU recorded 21 ground balls, led by Jessica Close, Madeline Bittell, and Lauryn Rygiel each managed three apiece in the contest.  

NMU Goals
Maddi Bast (2), Madeline Bittell (2), Kaitlyn Bridger, Dayna Carlson, Natalie McGinnis, Emily Renfrew, Aleya Speas

Up Next
NMU will be back at it from the Superior Dome on Sunday (Feb. 20) when they play host to the Quincy University Hawks at noon.