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MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University women's lacrosse team will resume GLIAC competition this week, as they play at the Superior Dome for the first time in over a month. 

Northern will welcome two nationally ranked opponents to town this week, as #11 Grand Valley State visits for a 5 p.m. matchup on Friday (April 1). On Sunday, #24 Davenport will be in town for a noon contest. 

The Wildcats head into the weekend with an 8-2 record on the season, winning their last six. 
 
WEEKLY NOTES
Fans can follow the action using video, live stats, and audio.
Follow @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week.
 
Friday vs. Grand Valley State
Tickets: bit.ly/3DfJ9BE
Live Stats: bit.ly/3Ht3IuO
Video: bit.ly/380RA89
 
Sunday vs. Davenport
Tickets: bit.ly/3JOpNpw
Live Stats: bit.ly/3Ht3IuO
Video: bit.ly/380RA89
 
LAST TIME OUT
Before a week off of competition this past week, the Wildcats took two on the road to push their winning streak to six games. NMU defeated Concordia University, St. Paul 16-11 and Upper Iowa 24-3 to improve to 8-2 on the season. 

The Wildcats claimed both offensive and defensive players of the week following the pair of victories. The 'Cats were led by Minnie Bittell on offense as she scored five goals against the Golden Bears and added three goals and an assist vs. the Peacocks. Bittell now leads the 'Cats with 33 goals, 10 assists, and 43 points this season. 

Aliyah Smukala controlled the games between the pipes for the Green and Gold. Smukala stopped 18 shots on the weekend with a .529 save percentage. Her 11 stops in goal and six ground balls picked up at Concordia were both season bests. 
 
MATCHUP HISTORY
The Wildcats are 0-8 against the Lakers. The Wildcats lost 19-9 and 18-6 a season ago.
 
Northern is 1-6 in their matchups with the Panthers, with the victory coming in the 2018 season. NMU lost 21-5 and 17-7 last season. 
 
STAT LEADERS
Points: Madeline Bittell (43), Maddi Bast (30), Emily Renfrew (20)
Goals: Madeline Bittell (33), Maddi Bast (29), Emily Renfrew (19)
Assists: Madeline Bittell (10), Clara Johnson (4), Dayna Carlson (4)
Ground Balls:  Lauryn Rygiel (16), Jessica Daniels (14), Maddi Bast (14)
Caused Turnovers: Lauryn Rygiel (21), Heather Beebe (14), Jessica Daniels (12)
Saves: Aliyah Smukala (29), Cam Stilson (19)

LAST SEASON
The Wildcats finished last season with an 6-8 overall record, while posting a 4-4 mark in GLIAC matchups. 

The team saw a program record five All-GLIAC honorees at the end of the season. Leading the way were Madeline Bittell and Lauren Rygiel who each claimed First Team honors. 

Madeline Bittell made the All-GLIAC first team in a year where she rewrote the record books. The midfielder, hailing from Minnetonka, Minn., broke the school season records in assists (19) and draw controls (85) while tying the points record (49). 

Midfielder Lauryn Rygiel led the team in caused turnovers with 14, which is tied for the second-best season showing in program history. 

Second Team honors belonged to Emily Renfrew, Katelyn Mongold, and Cam Stilson. 

Emily Renfrew received her All-GLIAC Second Team honor after she led the team in goals (36), shots on goal (60), and tied for first in shots (74). The attacker is second in NMU history in career goals (69), points (84), shots (165), and shots on goal (121). She also earned the program's first GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week award on March 30, 2021.

Midfielder Katelyn Mongold was the next Wildcat to make the All-GLIAC Second Team. The freshman from Schaumburg, Ill. contributed to the NMU effort this season with 22 goals, four assists, 17 ground balls, and 31 draw controls.

Goalkeeper Cam Stilson rounded out the NMU delegation on the All-GLIAC Second Team. The sophomore from Brighton, Mich. spent 607:52 minutes in goal for the Wildcats this season. Stilson had 96 saves and finished with a record of 5-7. The keeper started all 12 games she appeared in and on March 30th picked up the program's first GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week award.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The Wildcats roster consists of 31 student-athletes. The biggest group on the team is the freshmen class with 14. There are 11 sophomores, one junior, and five seniors. The 'Cats are represented from 10 different states, including Minnesota (11), Michigan (10), Arizona, (2), Colorado (2), California, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin. 
 
THIRD SEASON FOR COACH LEMAY
The 2022 season is the third for head coach Lindsey LeMay leading the Wildcats Lacrosse Program.

The 2021 season saw a new level of success for LeMay's Wildcats. The team concluded the season with a program-best 6-8 overall record and a 4-4 GLIAC mark. LeMay had five student-athletes named All-GLIAC including the first lacrosse Wildcats to be named to the First and Second Team. NMU also had the program's first GLIAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards won in the 2020-21 season. Freshman Madeline Bittell broke the school season records in assists (19) and draw controls (85) while tying for first in points (49) during the season.

In her first season leading the team in 2020, the team posted a 2-3 record before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She collected her first career win against Lewis University, defeating the Flyers 15-4. The team then defeated Quincy University 16-4. The 2-1 start to the 2020 season is the best start in program history.
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will enjoy another week off before welcoming Concordia, St. Paul and Upper Iowa to town the following week.