Six NMU players earned this recognition, led by sophomores Madeline Bittell and Lauryn Rygiel being named to the GLIAC First Team.

In addition, seniors Emily Renfrew and Jessica Daniels and freshman Maddi Bast made the Second Team, while senior Aleya Speas won honorable mention.

The Wildcats finished with their most wins and first winning record in program history at 9-8 this spring. Their 3-5 GLIAC season was second only to the 4-4 mark posted in 2021. The program was in its fifth season, not including a 2020 campaign shortened by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, after it began in 2017.

NMU was 6-2 in nonconference games before starting into the GLIAC part of its schedule that included 16-1 Grand Valley State and sometimes-nationally ranked Davenport among the league’s five teams. The Panthers received votes in the most recent NCAA Division II poll released last Monday.

Northern Michigan University sophomore Lauryn Rygiel, left, defends against a Grand Valley State player during their game played at the Superior Dome in Marquette on April 1. (Photo courtesy NMU)

Northern’s season ended when it bowed out at the powerful Lakers in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals on Friday.

Bittell, from Minnetonka, Minnesota, earned a First Team honor for the second straight season. After setting several Northern records a year ago, Bittell just about rewrote the Wildcats’ record book this spring, setting new season standards with her 52 goals, 71 points, 124 total shots and 90 shots on goal.

Bittell was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week on March 21 after an eight-goal, one-assist weekend when she led NMU to a road sweep of conference foes Concordia-St. Paul on March 18 and Upper Iowa on March 20.

Rygiel, from downstate South Lyon, also made the GLIAC First Team for the second consecutive season. This season, she led not only the Wildcats but the entire conference with 29 caused turnovers, while she was second at Northern to only goalie Aliyah Smukala with 27 ground balls and second to Bittell in draw controls with 55.

Rygiel, a midfielder, scored one goal and had three assists this season.

Madeline Bittell

Renfrew, from downstate Okemos, made the league’s Second Team for the second consecutive year, finishing in a tie for the team lead in game-winning goals with two and also third on Northern with 28 goals and 32 points.

Daniels, from downstate Brighton, was third for NMU with 13 caused turnovers while adding 15 ground balls and four goals on just five shots. In fact, all five of her shots this season were on target, the only Wildcat to boast a 100% shooting accuracy on goal.

On Senior Night against Upper Iowa, Daniels even played goalie and recorded a save.

Bast, from Maple Grove, Minnesota, was second for the Wildcats only to Bittell with 38 goals, 40 points, 90 total shots and 64 shots on goal. She also matched Renfrew for the team lead with two game-winners.

Bast’s season best was five goals twice in back-to-back games at CSP and Upper Iowa.

Lauryn Rygiel

Speas, from Castle Rock, Colorado, was second on NMU with eight assists, tying the same number from the previous season and a top-five mark in program history.

Speas was also fourth for Northern with 20 goals and 28 points, which included a season-best four goals vs. Lewis in a 15-4 nonconference victory on Feb. 27.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.