ALLENDALE, Mich. – The NMU lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaker in the GLIAC Championship game against the Grand Valley State University Lakers by a score of 11-10. It was far and away the tightest the 'Cats have played the Lakers in the two teams' matchup history, with the previous closest margin being an eight-goal defeat (3/31/23, L 16-8). 

Minnie Bittell was the leader for the 'Cats with five goals, setting a new program record for most goals in a regular season with 56, breaking her own record of 52 tallies last season. She also added two assists and recorded six shots on goal. Lauren Rygiel picked up four ground balls, and Hannah Melander made 11 saves on 22 shots for a solid .500 SV%. 

As a team, the Wildcats got outshot 35-16, posted 15 ground balls to Grand Valley's 17, had 16 turnovers to the Lakers 13, and caused six turnovers to Grand Valley's eight. 


How it Happened
The Lakers took the lead fairly quickly with Molly Bursinger scoring with a free-position shot before Camryn Mayer evened the score with her fourth goal of the season.The Lakers would go on to score two more goals before the final whistle, giving GVSu a 3-1 lead after the first frame.

That two-point lead went up to four after Bursinger netted two more for the Lakers. All of a sudden a switch flipped for the 'Cats, leading to a streak with three-straight Green and Gold goals being scored. The first came from Clara Johnson with an assist by Minnie Bittell, then Bittell added the second tally. With less than 30 seconds left in the first half, Kaitlyn Bridger took a free-position shot and added the third. At the half, the Wildcats trailed the Lakers by one, 5-4.

After a slow start to the third quarter, Mayer struck again and was able to knot the score at five a piece. Not even a minute passed before Bittell found herself scoring for the second time, leading to her all-time program-high 53rd goal of the season. A Laker goal tied up the score once again, but it didn't last long because Bittell was able to rack up two more tallies for NMU to go up 8-6. The Lakers were able to sneak one last goal in before the clock ran out, and the Wildcats held an 8-7 lead going into the final frame.

The final quarter was a nail-biter which started with the Lakers gaining a one-point edge on the 'Cats. Danielle Key was able to even up the score yet again at 9-9, but crucial draw control wins from the Lakers led to two more goals by Bursinger and Sydney Stone to go up a pair. With 53 seconds left and the Lakers a man-down, Bittell closed out the game with one last goal. The Wildcats couldn't gain control on the ensuing draw, and would eventually fall just short to the Lakers in the GLIAC Championship, 11-10.


NMU Goals
Bittell (5), Mayer (2), Bridger (1), Johnson (1), Key (1).