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Women's Lacrosse Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

PREVIEW: Wildcats Complete Non-Conference Slate with Ashland and UIndy

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The NMU women's lacrosse team takes to the road again this weekend, traveling south to face Ashland and # 3/5 University of Indianapolis. 

The Wildcats (5-2, 0-0 GLIAC) are coming off a grueling road trip to Colorado over spring break that saw the 'Cats set a program record for best start to a season, going 5-0 for the first time in its history.

NMU now has its sights set on another road trip, this time heading to Ohio and Indianapolis to face off against Ashland (3-3, 0-0 GMAC) and # 3/5 UIndy (5-1, 0-0 GLVC). Games are set for 12 p.m. ET on both Friday, March 13, and Sunday, March 15. 

For viewing and streaming options, please head to the NMU lacrosse schedule page on the NMU Athletics website. 

Hear from Lindsey (LeMay) Majkrzak

The 'Cats were put through a tough schedule and had to adapt; after originally being scheduled to play three games with a day in between each contest, the game against nationally-ranked Regis on Friday had to be moved to Thursday due to inclement weather in the area for Friday, and the 'Cats were now playing three games in four days at high elevation. 

The 'Cats set a program-record fifth-straight win to open the season with a 9-7 win over Colorado Mesa on Monday. It also marked the first time that NMU played outside to start the season, and how well her team performed is something that Majkrzak is very proud of.

"In my seven years of being here, we have always struggled with that first game outside, so that was big for us to succeed that day. Thinking back to when I first got here, we lost to Colorado Mesa [pretty badly], so that was a nice full circle moment for me."

 

NMU then dropped a tight 10-11 contest to Colorado Springs on Wednesday before having to turn around the next day to play then-ranked # 17/18 Regis, falling 6-14 in the contest.

"By the end of the third game, we were physically incapable of running anymore, and we're a very fit team. It was very telling that some of the outside factors, [such as] playing at elevation and game changes, pile up… [My student-athletes] told me after the game that this was the most sore they've ever been. We were making poor defensive decisions, and it was mistakes that, if we had gotten that day of rest, I think it would have been a better game. I want to give Regis credit, they're a really good team, very skilled, and have been atop their conference for numerous years, but by the end of that week, we were shot in a way I have never seen before."

Despite the schedule changes and the physically demanding schedule, head coach Majkrzak says that the trip brought her team closer together.

"It was a fun week overall. We don't get to bring the whole team on every trip, and having the whole team there was fun to see freshmen start to make friends with upperclassmen that maybe they don't get to see as often. Everyone came out of their shell."

 

The 'Cats kick off with Ashland to start the weekend, a program that head coach Majkrzak is very familiar with. The Eagles were members of the GLIAC in their first few seasons as a program, as NMU won 19-5 and 25-13 in 2021, before making a move to the GMAC.

The Eagles are now coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the GMAC Postseason conference title and earning an automatic bid, finishing with a 14-6 overall record and a perfect 8-0 conference record a season ago.

"Their coach, Lauren Simko, took over a handful of years ago, and watching her change this program and turn them into the dominant force that they are has been really cool to watch. They play very differently from teams in the GLIAC, and that has been good to lock everybody in and remind them that these are our last two in-region games and will set us up for what we need to do in conference."

NMU then has to quickly turn its focus to #3/5 University of Indianapolis, which is off to a 5-1 start that includes a 10-6 win over #1 Tampa to start the season, a tight 8-9 loss to #4 Florida Southern, and a 16-12 win over then #21 Grand Valley State. The Eagles are 18-3 over NMU all-time, including an 18-3 win over the 'Cats in Allendale last season and an 18-5 win in Indianapolis in 2023. 




 
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