Kenosha, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse lacrosse team opened its 2026 season with an 9-8 triple overtime victory at Carthage College (Wis.) Saturday afternoon at Art Keller Field. The Firebirds drop to 2-1.

Carthage (Wis.) took a 1-0 lead at 9:43 on Auggie Claridge's goal before Evie Brilz scored for UWL to the game at 1-1 with 8:31 left in the first quarter on Anna Millard's assist. After Carthage (Wis.) took a 3-1 lead after the first quarter, UWL tallied two straight goals to force a 3-3-3 tie. Ava Schiltz scored with 10:29 left in the second quarter to make it 3-2 and Tori Katzenmeyer's goal with 7:30 remaining tied the contest.

The game remained, 3-3, at halftime.

Shannon Heitschmidt gave the Firebirds a 4-3 lead with 14:08 remaining in the third quarter, but Angie Olla's goal with 13:22 left on a Millard assist tied the game at 4-4. Piper Lefevre (7:51 remaining) and Reggie Ross (6:57) gave Carthage (Wis.) a 6-4 advantage after three quarters.

Lefevre extended the lead to 7-4 with 14:46 left in the game when UWL went on a 3-0 run tie it at 7-7. Schiltz scored a man-up goal with 9:42 remaining to make it 7-5 followed by Megan Maloney's man-up goal with 6:20 left to cut it to one. Millard recorded her third assist on Maloney's goal. Millard then scored the game-tying goal with 5:06 remaining on a Schiltz assist.

Carthage (Wis.) took an 8-7 lead with Kelsey O'Brien scoring on a Heitschmidt assist with 3:52 left, but Schiltz tied the game at 8-8 on a man-up goal with 2:41 remaining.

The game remained tied until Schiltz scored the winning goal with 1:54 left on Maloney's assist with 1:54 left in the third overtime.

UWL finished with 22 shots, including 13 on goal. Schiltz had four goals and one assist while tying Megan Feeney's career record for goals with 176. 

Millard totaled three assists and one goal Saturday. Maloney led the Eagles with three ground balls. Maloney and Olla each had five draw controls. 

Stefani Rossi recorded 14 saves in earning the win.

Carthage (Wis.) totaled 32 shots with 19 on goal. Lefevre and O'Brien each scored twice with Lefevre adding two assists.

Xochitl Delvale-Vera had eight saves.

UWL returns to action Wednesday, March 4 at MSOE (Wis.) at 5 p.m.