The Northern Michigan University Women’s Lacrosse team kicked off its season in victorious fashion after defeating the Albion College Britons 17-8 last weekend.

Playing in front of the home crowd in the Superior Dome, the youth-led laxers jumped out to an early goal from freshman attack/midfielder Aleya Speas less than two minutes into the start of the match. Assisting on the goal was sophomore attack/midfielder Tess Kostelec, who finished the game with two goals of her own and a team high of hour assists.

Following Speas’ goal on the scoresheet was freshman midfielder Jessica Daniels who put the ’Cats up 2-0 on a free position shot.

The Britons scored two quick goals to even the game at two a-piece. Daniels was quick on the draw again for the ’Cats and scored two consecutive goals again on free position shots for a 4-2 NMU lead with less than ten minutes of action played in the first half.

Junior midfielder Graison Ringlever scored with 12 minutes remaining in the half for the first upperclassman goal of the season for the Wildcats.

Freshman attack/midfielder Emily Renfrew scored a goal before also adding an assist on a Speas goal shortly after.

Speas added another goal before the end of the half but the Britons would score to cut the lead to 9-3 at halftime.

NMU was sharp again in the second half, as two NMU goals from Kostelec and Ringlever scored to bring the lead up to 11-5.

Looking to pull away even further, the Wildcats found offense behind the sticks of Speas and Ringlever on free position shots to give the Wildcats’ an eight-goal lead.

The Britons scored two goals to end the game but it wasn’t enough as NMU captured a 17-8 victory.

Speas and Ringlever lead the Wildcats up front with five goals each while Daniels followed close behind with four.

Freshman goalkeeper Cam Stilson was impressive in her NMU debut after stopping 16 bshots and allowing eight goals.

Up next for NMU is a home matchup against the No. 4 Lindenwood Lions at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 3.