Marquette, Mich. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse lacrosse team opened its 2025 season with an 18-8 loss at Northern Michigan University Saturday afternoon in the Superior Dome.
 
The Eagles drop to 0-1 while the Wildcats improve to 3-0.
 
In the first-ever meeting between the teams, Northern Michigan took a 1-0 lead with 12:42 left in the first quarter on Maddi Bast's goal. UWL tied the game at 1-1 with 12:00 remaining after Megan Maloney's goal.
 
The Wildcats led, 3-1, after the first quarter on getting goals from Hannah Jabas and Josie Lakosky.
 
Angie Olla scored to start the second quarter with 13:34 remaining to cut the lead to 3-2, but Northern Michigan went on a 7-0 scoring run to lead 10-2. Jabas had three straight goals in the run.
 
UWL cut it to 10-3 on Joslyn Brotemarkle's goal with 2:36 left in the first half when Bast (1:41 remaining) and Natalie Thomas (:06) extended Northern Michigan's lead to 12-3 at halftime.
 
The Eagles outscored the Wildcats, 4-2, in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 14-7. Evie Brilz had a pair of goals in the quarter for UWL with Maloney and Ava Schiltz also scoring once.
 
Northern Michigan, a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, outscored UWL, 4-1, in the fourth quarter.
 
UWL, playing its first game under head coach Nick Anagnostis, finished with 17 shots in the game. Maloney, Schiltz and Brilz led UWL with two goals each. Schiltz had one assist. Kara Stay led the Eagles with three ground balls while Maloney and Stay each had one caused turnover.
 
Stefania Rossi recorded 15 saves for UWL.
 
Northern Michigan recorded 42 shots. Jabas led Northern Michigan with six goals while Lakosky and Bast each had three. Lakosky had a team-high two assists.
 
Zoe Montgomery registered two saves and Lauren Esposito one for the Wildcats.
 
UWL returns to action Saturday, March 1 hosting Carthage College (Wis.) at 1 p.m. in the Eagles' home opener.