MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University women's lacrosse team will return to Allendale, Michigan again this week as they get set to face the #7 Grand Valley State Lakers to begin the GLIAC Tournament. First draw is slated for 3 p.m. on Friday, April 29.
The Wildcats ended the regular season with a 9-7 record and a 3-5 mark within the GLIAC. The Lakers have won 14 straight, supporting a perfect 8-0 conference record and a 16-1 overall record.
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
Live Stats:
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Video:
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A LOOK BACK
The Wildcats wrapped up the regular season downstate last week, as they dropped contests at Davenport (15-10) and at Grand Valley (18-7).
Madeline Bittell led Northern with four goals against DU, while seven 'Cats scored at GVSU.
MATCHUP HISTORY
NMU is 0-10 matching up with the Lakers. Northern fell 21-4 earlier this month in Marquette and 18-7 this past week in Allendale.
STAT LEADERS
Points:
Madeline Bittell (69),
Maddi Bast (40),
Emily Renfrew (32)
Goals:
Madeline Bittell (50),
Maddi Bast (38),
Emily Renfrew (28)
Assists:
Madeline Bittell (19),
Aleya Speas (8),
Natalie McGinnis (5)
Ground Balls:
Aliyah Smukala (28),
Lauryn Rygiel (26),
Madeline Bittell (22)
Caused Turnovers:
Lauryn Rygiel (29),
Heather Beebe (19),
Jessica Daniels (13)
Saves:
Aliyah Smukala (58),
Cam Stilson (27),
Jessica Daniels (1)
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.
WHAT'S NEXT
The winner of Friday's contest will advance to the GLIAC Championship on Sunday, May 1 to take on the winner of the Davenport vs. Concordia-St. Paul matchup.
