Written by Ali Holmquist, Sports Information Student Assistant

Alma, Mich. - The Alma College women's lacrosse team defeated the Northland College LumberJills 23-7 on Saturday evening (March 18). The victory is the largest margin for the Scots since defeating Saint Mary's 24-6 in the 2014 season.

Senior Darby Kahler (Coldwater, Mich. / Coldwater) led the Scots with five goals, tying her career-high while also adding one assist. Freshmen Nikki Reece (Livonia, Mich. / Ladywood) and Olivia Benoit (Grosse Point, Mich. / Grosse Point North) each scored a career-high four goals. Seven Scots contributed with goals en route to the victory.

The Scots set the tone in the opening minutes of the game when four players each scored a goal in under two minutes. Those four goals were part of a seven goal unanswered run before Northland was able to get on the board with 17:13 remaining in the half. After back and forth goals between the two teams, the LumberJills were able to score back-to-back goals before senior Kilee DeBrabander (Marshall, Mich. / Marshall) would score her second of three career goals with over four minutes to go.  With 13 seconds left in the half, Benoit would extend the Scots lead to nine after an assisted goal from junior Katie Rogers (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Farmington Hills). Rogers is currently tied for first in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in assists with six for the season.

In the second half, the Scots continued to out-score the LumberJills 9-2 despite being outshot 11-13. Kahler scored three of her seven goals in the second half while junior Stephanie Mangutz (Mio, Mich. / Mio-AuSable) scored her first goal of the season. With seven seconds left in the game, Benoit would find the back of the net off a free position attempt to finish the game.

DeBrabander led the team in ground balls with a career-high of six. Reece collected a game high six draw controls, moving her to second in the MIAA. Reece scooped up four ground balls and Mangutz had two, tying them for second in the MIAA.

Freshman Allie Ray (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y. / Comsewogue) saw 60 minutes of action in goal and made 11 saves off 18 shots.  Ray is first in the MIAA in save percentage with 54.9 percent and in goals-against average with 8.07 goals. 

The Scots hit the road on Wednesday (March 22) to face Heidelberg University at 4:00 p.m.

Contact: Zach Russo, Assistant Sports Information Director, (989) 463-7436