Wildcats win 18-6
QUINCY, Ill. – The NMU lacrosse team downed the Missouri Western Griffons, thanks to a record-setting performance from Josie Lakosky.
Lakosky scored seven goals and 10 points, smashing her previous records of six goals and seven points in one game, and setting a new program high in single-game points and new career-highs in both goals and points. Lakosky tied her single-game goal record in the first half, scoring six in the first 30 minutes to aid the Wildcats to a 9-2 halftime lead.
The Wildcats (4-1, 0-0 GLIAC) rebounded from Wednesday’s heartbreaking overtime loss to Quincy with a convincing win today, coming on the same field of its overtime loss on Wednesday in this neutral-site contest. The Griffons (2-3, 0-0 GLVC) are also coming off an overtime loss, but were unable to find a spark.
Another big reason for the Wildcats’ success today was their defensive play. Goalkeeper Zoe Montgomery made a career-high 11 saves, the most since Lauren Esposito had 12 last season against Ashland.
Redshirt-Junior Emily Radke had a career game, scoring four goals from five shots on goal, setting a career-high in single-game goals for the Cave Creek, Arizona native. Along with Lakosky and Radke, seven other Wildcats recorded at least one point.
Defender Dayna Carlson had a productive evening, causing a pair of turnovers, scooping two ground balls, and scoring her first goal of the season after an impressive interception. Maddi Bast contributed two ground balls and a caused turnover of her own.
The ‘Cats out shot the Griffons 31-27 and recorded 18 ground balls to nine. The ‘Cats set season-high totals in points (24), assists (6), saves (11), and clears (18).
NMU now looks ahead to Sunday when NMU plays Maryville, the No. 5/6 team in the nation. Play is set to start at noon ET from St. Louis, Missouri.
How It Happened
After a successful defensive stand for the Wildcats on the opening possession of the game, the ‘Cats marched down the field and gained offensive zone pressure of their own, capped off by Stanton opening the scoring to give the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead. The Griffons tied it on the ensuing possession, but a pair of goals from Lakosky to go along with five defensive stops and the Wildcats held a 3-1 advantage after 15 minutes.
Lakosky completed her hat-trick to open scoring in the second quarter, sparking three-straight tallies from the Green and Gold to take a 6-1 advantage just under five minutes into the second frame, forcing Missouri Western to use a timeout. Lakosky scored her fifth of the evening coming out of the timeout before the Griffons were finally able to snap the streak, scoring on their fifth offensive zone possession after the ‘Cats were successful in the defensive zone for four consecutive times. Two more Wildcat tallies before the half, and the Wildcats held a demanding 9-2 lead thanks in big part to Lakosky’s six goals.
Lakosky broke her single-game goal record just 45 seconds into the half, giving the Wildcats an early jump to start the half with a free-position goal. Stiffing defense and two more goals, and the Griffons used its second timeout with the ‘Cats ahead 12-2 with seven minutes left in the third. The Griffons came out of the timeout with a pair of goals a minute apart before scoring a third straight with just under a minute left, and the Griffons scored more goals in five minutes than they did for the first 40 minutes of the game. Montgomery made a crucial save in the dying seconds of the third quarter to stop the bleeding, and the ‘Cats were up by seven.
The ‘Cats scored three goals in the first five minutes of the final quarter, capped off by a Lakosky assist on Priestly’s second goal of the game to give Lakosky ten points on the evening, the most in a single-game in program history. Carlson read a long stretch pass and jumped in to intercept just on the other side of the Griffon restraining line, raced through a pair of denfenders and scored, giving the defender her first goal and point of the season.
