Skip To Main Content

Northern Michigan University

The Official Website of the Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan Wildcats
GLIAC Finals
9
Northern Mich. NMU 13-6
12
Winner Grand Valley St. GVSU 12-7
Northern Mich. NMU
13-6
9
Final
12
Grand Valley St. GVSU
12-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Northern Mich. NMU 2 6 0 1 9
Grand Valley St. GVSU 1 4 4 3 12

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | | Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

Wildcats Fall 9-12 in GLIAC Championship

NMU held an 8-5 lead going into halftime before GVSU out scored the 'Cats 7-1 in the second half.

ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Wildcats fell to the Grand Valley State Lakers, 12-9, in the GLIAC Tournament Championship finals.

The Wildcats went into halftime outplaying the Lakers and leading 8-5 after a six-goal offensive outburst in the second quarter. The Lakers would outscore NMU 7-1 in the final half, and complete the comeback to win its fifth consecutive GLIAC Tournament championship in front of their home crowd.

Josie Lakosky paved the 'Cats with four goals and five points, including a dominant 12 draw controls in the draw circle. Avery Lorinser added on a pair of goals, and Vanessa Carrico, Hannah Grimm, and Hannah Jabas all added goals of their own. Goalkeeper Lauren Esposito made six saves for a .333 SV%.

Ella Boose paced the field with six goals and seven points. Sarah Krause made eight saves in goal for a .471 SV%.

The teams battled through tough conditions all day. While the sun shone all evening, the GVSU Lacrosse Field pushed consistent 30-40 mph wind, with flurries gusting upwards of 50 mph.
 

How It Happened
The 'Cats got off to a hot start, controlling the opening draw and generating chances, Natalie Thomas causing a big turnover in the defensive end, and Lakosky going down the other end and opening the scoring three and a half minutes into the match. The Wildcat defense stood tall on the next three Laker possessions: goalkeeper Lauren Esposito made a crucial save on the ensuing possession, Sophie Langsdale got in the way of a GVSU shot, and a GVSU turnover led to a Wildcat two-minute power play. The 'Cats gave up a man-down goal, and the Lakers drew level. The 'Cats would be awarded three-straight man-up opportunities and were unable to convert, but a quality solo effort from Lakosky regained the Wildcat lead as time in the first half expired. 

The Lakers maintained possession as the first quarter ended, and they would take advantage, scoring less than 30 seconds into the second quarter, and the game was back to even. Langsdale stood tall defensively, causing a turnover behind the Wildcat net, and the 'Cats would have regained the lead if it weren't for the foot of Sarah Krause that was in the right place at the right time. The Lakers took the lead, but Lakosky completed her hat-trick on the ensuing possession, bringing the 'Cats level. Lorinser scored back-to-back, Hannah Jabas made a move around her defender to score from in tight, and the 'Cats found themselves up 6-4 with minutes remaining in the first half. Lakosky was unable to convert on a free position shot, but would find Vanessa Carrico moments later. Grimm fired a laser beam to the upper right corner with eight seconds left on the clock, and the 'Cats held an 8-5 lead going into the locker room. 

The 'Cats held an advantage in shots (15-9), shots on goal (13-6), ground balls (10-9), and draw controls (9-5) in the first half. NMU was 12/12 on clear attempts compared to GVSU's 11/12, the 'Cats turned the ball over 10 times to nine, and GVSU caused one more turnover at 6-5. 
 

The 'Cats had a two-man-up advantage and two free-position attempts from Lakosky, but the Lakers escaped unscathed, and the score remained unchanged halfway through the third quarter. The Wildcats were whistled for two straight faceoff violations, giving the Lakers the draw, and GVSU would go on to score four consecutive tallies in the final six minutes of the third quarter to take a one-goal lead into the final frame. 

Esposito made a crucial save to start the fourth quarter, the Wildcat offense couldn't convert the other direction, and Boose scored to give the Lakers its first multi-goal lead of the afternoon with her fifth of the game. Lakosky responded a minute and a half later, the Lakers struck again while Lakosky was serving a yellow card, and Esposito made a crucial save to spring a critical Wildcat possession down two goals with five minutes to play. A pair of crucial mistakes from the Wildcats, one in the offensive zone and then in the defensive zone, gave the Lakers a full shot clock with two and a half minutes remaining while still up two goals. GVSU scored to make it 12-9, and head coach Majkrzak used a timeout as time dwindled. A defensive stand from the Lakers would be the final action of the game, finishing at 12-9 as the final buzzer sounded.




 
Print Friendly Version