THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK LACROSSE… Upper Iowa (0-8, 0-6 GLIAC) is on the road for their only match up this weekend on Friday night in Houghton, Mich. The Peacocks will take on the Wildcats of Northern Michigan University (8-5, 2-3 GLIAC) at 5 p.m. The Wildcats enter the game in fourth place in the conference standings.
FIRST TIME AROUND… A little over three weeks ago, Upper Iowa hosted Northern Michigan on the turf in Harms-Eischeid Stadium in the program's first-ever home lacrosse match. The match also served as UIU's opening match in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Wildcats controlled the match and secured a 24-3 win over the Peacocks. The Wildcats scored nine goals in the first quarter and added six in the second quarter, while allowing just two goals to the Peacocks in the opening half to take a 15-2 lead into the locker room. Northern Michigan outscored Upper Iowa 9-1 in the second half. Maddi Bast led NMU with five goals, while Ciara Johnson scored four goals for the Wildcats. In total, 12 players scored a goal for Northern Michigan in the game, while two more registered one assist in their time of the field. Aliyah Smulkala made seven saves while picking up the win in goal.
Morgynn Spears converted the first goal of the day for Upper Iowa on a free-position attempt and added a second goal later in the contest. UIU's third goal came out of the pocket of
Maya Chesky, while
Marisa Malmgren notched an assist.
Izzy Kaczik registered a season-high in saves with 13 for the Peacocks.
UIU LEADERS… Upper Iowa has scored 26 goals in their eight matches this season on 76 shots as they average 9.5 attempts per game. The Peacocks have allowed 188 goals (23.5/game) in their first full season on the turf.
Maya Chesky and Spears lead the offense with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Chesky has scored 13 goals including three hat tricks this year, while Spears has hit the back of the net eight times; each Peacock has handed out two assists.
Bailee Fabert has notched three goals and an assist and leads the team in ground balls with 17.
Izzy Kaczik has made 67 saves (8.3/game) in goal for the Peacocks through eight games.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS… On Wednesday, the Wildcats dropped a 13-10 decision at home to Concordia University, St. Paul. NMU outshot their guests 35-27, but couldn't convert the advantage into scores. The Wildcats have scored 181 goals on the year for an average of 13.9 per game on 450 shots (34.6/game). The Wildcats are led by a trio of goal scorers; Madeline Bittell (44 goals/13 assists), Maddi Bast (33g/1a) and Emily Renfrew (23g/3a). Aliyah Smukala and Cam Stilson share time in the net for the Wildcats and have grabbed 46 and 22 saves, respectively.
UP NEXT… The Peacocks will close out their first full season next week with a non-conference match at home against Quincy University on Tuesday, Apr. 19 at 3 p.m. and a final GLIAC game in the Twin Cities against Concordia-St. Paul on Friday, Apr. 22 at 6 p.m.
