MARQUETTE, MI AND ST. PAUL, MN: Lacrosse season is finally here and the reigning 4 time G-MAC Champions took a trip north to open their 2025 campaign. With a stop at Northern Michigan on the way to Concordia University, St. Paul, the Maroon and Gold fell in both contests. 

On Friday, against Northern Michigan, the Cavaliers faced a tough defeat with a final score of 19-6. Despite the hopeful efforts from the Cavaliers, Northern Michigan maintained dominance throughout the game, ending Walsh's aspirations for a Valentine's Day victory.

The first half saw the Cavaliers trailing with a halftime score of 9-3 in favor of Northern Michigan. Katie Coomes and Rachel Black led the scoring efforts for Walsh, netting 4 and 2 goals respectively. Strong defensive play from the home team left the Cavaliers struggling to close the gap.

Walsh's goalie duo, Alison O'Hanian and Hailey Kuruc, faced a formidable attack but showcased resilience under pressure. Assists were contributed by Jossalyn Welch with two and Grace Santee with one, demonstrating team play and coordination in the face of adversity. Despite these efforts, key moments highlighted in the game leaned heavily in favor of Northern Michigan, who skillfully maintained and extended their lead, dictating the pace and flow of the game.

Two days later, in a nail-biting encounter, the Walsh University Women's Lacrosse team faced a narrow defeat against Concordia-St. Paul with a scoreline of 15-14. The intense clash saw the Cavaliers maintain a halftime lead of 7-5, yet despite a strong performance, they were edged out in an overtime thriller.

Rachel Black, Olivia Price, Deanna Loukas, Katie Coomes, and Grace Santee led the scoring efforts for Walsh, evidencing robust teamwork and competitive drive. Olivia Price and Rachel Black were pronounced as key players, contributing significantly in pushing the team through tense moments. Price, alongside teammates Santee, Loukas, Coomes, and Black, also managed to set up critical goals, highlighting a well-rounded offensive play. Alison O'Hanian put up a resilient fight in goal, although the ultimate test came when Sydney Smith of Concordia-St. Paul secured the deciding goal in the game's pivotal moment during overtime.

The Cavaliers are now looking forward to regrouping and revisiting their strategies as they prepare to face off against McKendree on February 20.