Northern Michigan University’s Josie Lakosky, right, takes a penalty shot and would score during a college lacrosse game played against Lewis University at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The women’s lacrosse team at Northern Michigan University found itself in an unaccustomed position during its game Thursday afternoon in the Superior Dome.

It wasn’t because of the setting — the Wildcats were finishing off a four-game homestand to start the season — but just the fact they were behind.

It didn’t matter that it was only in the first quarter of a game vs. Lewis University. NMU head coach Lindsey (LeMay) Majkrzak called a timeout to regroup her team right after the Flyers scored their third straight goal, all in the span of 2 1/2 minutes, to take a 3-1 lead.

And it apparently worked as Northern immediately scored the next four goals spanning into the first seven minutes of the second quarter to take a 5-3 lead that led to a 14-8 victory in the end.

Trailing in the game must’ve been an uncomfortable feeling for a team that had never trailed in its first three games. In fact, NMU had only been tied twice, the latest time not quite halfway through the first quarter vs. Calvin in the Feb. 13 opener.

One thing that has been a constant for the Wildcats this young season is the prolific scoring of junior attacker Josie Lakosky, who scored the opening goal Thursday and finished with four goals and three assists for a seven-point afternoon.

Unlike a couple of recent eight-goal efforts, she had a comrade in arms on this day, Avery Lorinser, who also scored four goals and tacked on two assists for six points, career bests in goals and points for her.

Teammates Emily Radke, Vanessa Carrico and Abby Sisson also scored two goals apiece for a quite well-rounded offense.

Also like previously, Lakosky did more than just score. On this day, she added five draw controls, scooped three ground balls and caused two turnovers. And to get those four goals, she took just seven shots, five of them on goal.

Northern’s Natalie Thomas and Sophie Langsdale joined Lakosky in also causing two turnovers, while Langsdale matched a personal best with four ground balls.

Elsewhere for NMU, Evita Weiche and Katelyn Wozney each had a pair of draw controls and two ground balls.

NMU improved to 4-0 in this nonconference part of the season, Thursday’s result actually the team’s lowest offensive output so far. Northern’s three previous scores were 20-10, 20-4 and 15-5, meaning even now the Wildcats are averaging a touch over 17 goals per game.

Netminder Lauren Esposito made her teammates’ output stand up as she made seven saves compared to the eight goals allowed, excellent in this sport. Lewis goalie Sophia Fountain stopped just four of the 18 shots on goal she faced.

Northern’s 4-0 record matches a program best start attained by Majkrzak’s charges in 2023.

While the score wasn’t that particularly close, a number of statistics were. The Wildcats only held a 26-22 total shots and 14-13 shots on goal edge, with turnovers even 18-18 and NMU holding a 13-11 draw controls advantage.

Northern did have a 23-11 ground ball edge, also scoring on 4 of 6 free-position shots as Lewis had just one attempt and misfired on it.

Now the Wildcats embark on their longest road trip of the season, playing five straight games out of state and not returning home until the first day of spring, March 20.

The trip starts with three games in Colorado over five days, beginning with a contest at Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colorado, at 6 p.m. EST today. Then comes an encounter vs. Colorado-Colorado Springs in Colorado Springs at 4 p.m. EST Wednesday, and ending at Regis in Denver at 2 p.m. EST Friday.

Two more games on the road trip follow at Ashland on March 13 and at Indianapolis on March 15.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the game. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.