MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University women's lacrosse team heads back on the road as they will play their final set of regular season contests this weekend. 

On Friday (April 22), NMU will make the trip to Davenport looking to avenge their 19-15 defeat to the Panthers earlier this season. Game time is at 3 p.m. The 'Cats wrap up regular season play with a trip to #8 Grand Valley State to play the Lakers at noon on Sunday (April 24). 

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. Davenport
Live Stats: bit.ly/3Ht3IuO
Video: bit.ly/3KWmDk4
 
Saturday vs. Grand Valley State
Live Stats: bit.ly/3Ht3IuO
Video: bit.ly/3jQS9nI
 
A LOOK BACK 
The Wildcats hosted two games at the Superior Dome last week. On Wednesday, Concordia-St. Paul bested the Wildcats 13-10. Madeline Bittell posted a six-goal game. 

A bounce-back performance was in order for the Wildcats on Friday, as they dominated Upper Iowa for a 24-3 win. NMU saw goals from 13 different players, including each of the four seniors scoring on Senior Night. 
 
MATCHUP HISTORY
The Green and Gold are 1-7 against the Panthers in their matchup history. Davenport defeated NMU 19-15 earlier this season as the Wildcats used a 12-5 second half to put pressure on the Panthers. Madeline Bittell led the way in the contest with five goals. 

NMU is 0-9 matching up with the Lakers. Northern fell 21-4 last month.
 
STAT LEADERS
Points: Madeline Bittell (62), Maddi Bast (39), Emily Renfrew (30)
Goals: Madeline Bittell (45), Maddi Bast (37), Emily Renfrew (26)
Assists: Madeline Bittell (17), Aleya Speas (6)
Ground Balls: Aliyah Smukala (24), Lauryn Rygiel (21)
Caused Turnovers: Lauryn Rygiel (28 - Leads GLIAC), Heather Beebe (17)
Saves: Aliyah Smukala (47), Cam Stilson (27)
 
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 GLIAC semifinals will take place the following Friday, April 29 with the Championship game set for Sunday, May 1.