MIDLAND, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's lacrosse team made its debut on Thursday afternoon at Northwood. The Cardinals (0-1) fell 20-9 to the Timberwolves (1-2) in the very first lacrosse game in SVSU history.
"We have been eager to get out here and actually get rolling and make sure we have the nuts and bolts tightened," said Cardinal head lacrosse coach Cait Gaitley. "I think this game was a really good way to see what we need to work on, so we can come out even harder the next time."
Freshman Gabby Parker had a fantastic start to her college career as she scored six goals on eight shots including the first two goals in Cardinal lacrosse history. Lainey Lasky also netted a goal and an assist. Annelle Dykema and Sarah Veale recorded their first goals of the season as well in the losing effort. Mikaila Stone led defensively with three ground balls to her credit. Stone also made seven saves in her first career start in goal.
Northwood took the early 1-0 lead with a goal in the opening 90 seconds of play. Parker knotted things up with the first goal in SVSU history at the 13:29 mark. She followed that up with another just over three minutes later to give the Cardinals their only lead of the contest, 2-1. The Timberwolves tallied four more scores to take a 5-2 lead into the second quarter.
Veale tallied her first career goal in the first 63 seconds of the second frame to cut the deficit to 5-3. Parker completed the hat trick with 8:18 remaining in the half to keep the margin at two goals, 6-4. Parker scored a man-up goal in the final minute of the half after Northwood added three scores to go to the break trailing 9-5.
Parker added one goal in the third with 10:39 on the clock and Dykema scored hers at 2:07 as the Cardinals continued to battle. Parker added a score off an assist from Lasky in the fourth before Lasky scored herself unassisted just two scores later, but it wasn't enough to keep up with Northwood.
UP NEXT: Saginaw Valley State will travel to Ohio this Monday, March 3 to play Tiffin in the team's second game of the season. The Cardinals and Dragons are scheduled to begin at noon.
