A late Wildcats’ goal in the fourth quarter was disallowed
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The NMU women’s lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaking 8-9 loss to Grand Valley on senior day.
The Wildcats (10-4, 4-2 GLIAC) found themselves in a 3-6 hole at halftime before an explosive third quarter gave NMU an 8-6 lead going into the final frame. NMU went on a 5-0 goal run in the third, including three goals and an assist from Josie Lakosky.
The Lakers (7-7, 6-0 GLIAC) scored three unanswered in the final frame to retake the lead, and Avery Lorinser tied the game with just over two minutes remaining, but the officials waved it off and issued a yellow card for dangerous contact, giving the Lakers posession and man-up for almost all of the rest of the contest.
The ‘Cats got five goals and an assist from Josie Lakosky, who passed Minnie Bittell’s 72 goals for the most goals in a single season in an NMU uniform. The ‘Cats got two from Avery Lorinser and one from Vanessa Carrico.
Natalie Thomas recorded three ground balls and two caused turnovers to lead the defense, while Payton Ross paced the ‘Cats with three caused turnovers. Evita Weiche also recorded three ground balls.
Goalkeeper Lauren Esposito made six saves, giving her 298 on her career, and is now two away from becoming the second Wildcat to record 300+ saves in her collegiate career (Cam Stilson, 2019-2023, 330).
A big reason for the Laker win was the play of goalkeeper Sarah Krause, who made 12 saves for a .600 SV%, including holding Lakosky to 1 of 5 on free position shots. Ella Boose netted four goals for the Lakers, and Delaney Smith notched four points with a goal and three helpers.
NMU outshot GVSU 28-24, with 14 on target to 12, and had a nine free position shots to three.
How It Happened
The Wildcats had three free position attempts and a minute of a man-advantage, but were unable to capitalize on early opportunities. Boose took a quick ass from Smith, and the Lakers escaped unscathed and up a goal just six minutes into the contest. Lorinser responded with her 30th of the season moments later to bring the match back to even. Lakosky fired one off the post, and Lorinser came up with a critical ground ball, leading to another Lakosky scoring opportunity, but Krause made a crucial save to keep the Laker lead. Boose netted her second of the game, forcing the ‘Cats to use a timeout with four minutes to go in the first quarter. Lauren Esposito made a crucial save on a Laker free position attempt, and Lakosky went the other way and brought the ‘Cats back to within one, scoring her 72nd of the year and matching the single-season goals record.
Lakosky was etched in history one minute and 54 seconds into the second quarter, as the junior scored her 73rd of the season to stand alone, holding the most goals in a single season in program history.
Esposito made a crucial save at the other end with her team a woman down, Lakosky forced a turnover and scooped her own ground ball to stop a clear, and the ‘Cats got a grade-A chance to level. The ‘Cats got a defensive stop, but an unfortunate turnover led immediately to the Lakers’ fifth, and the ‘Cats were down a pair again. Lakosky had a pair of free position shots to bring her team back within one, but they were both stopped by Krause, and the Lakers quickly took it the other way and scored on a fast break to extend the lead to three. Lakosky had one more opportunity with a free position as time was expiring, but she sent the shot high, and the Lakers escaped with a 6-3 lead at halftime.
Krause came out of the locker room and made another free position save, this time on Lorinser just two minutes into the second frame. Esposito responded with a save on Boose at the other end, and the ‘Cats took that momentum to the other end, and Lakosky buried her 100th point of the season to open scoring in the second half. NMU was finally able to convert on a free position shot, this time from the stick of Carrico, and the ‘Cats were only down one in a dominant start to the half. Lakosky notched the game even at six apiece, and the Lakers called a timeout, sending the Wildcat bench and crowd into a frenzy. Lakosky came through again, giving NMU a lead with her third goal of the quarter before playing a pass to Lorinser and giving NMU a two-goal cushion and five-straight out of half.
The ‘Cats would take an 8-6 lead into the final quarter. The Lakers scored, got a crucial one-on-one save from Krause against Lakosky, and Boose went the other way and notched the game-tying tally five minutes into the final quarter. It was a tight defensive contest from there, as the Wildcats used a timeout with just under five minutes to play as they gained the offensive zone in a deadlocked game. Krause came up big again, stopping Lakosky from the free position for the third time this game. A Wildcat turnover on a clear led to a fast break for the Lakers, and they took advantage and regained the lead with three minutes remaining. The ‘Cats thought they tied the contest, but Lorinser’s goal was waved off due to a dangerous contact call, and the Lakers got a two minute advantage in the dying minutes of the one-goal match. The Wildcats got a defensive stop with time on the clock to try and draw even, but a costly defensive zone turnover proved fatal, and the Lakers escaped with a 9-8 decision.
Up Next
The final week of the regular season features three matches in seven games on the road, starting with a clash with SVSU on Sunday, April 19. NMU then heads to UIndy for a rescheduled non-conference match on Tuesday, April 21, and then rounds out the regular season at Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, April 25.
