Detroit, MI – Alma College Women's Lacrosse opened their 2024 season on Sunday. Picked to finish second in MIAA preseason coaches poll, the Scots kicked off against the reigning NAIA National Champions, Lawrence Tech University.
 
Lawrence Tech, who came into 2024 as the top ranked NAIA team in the country, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 4 minutes, before Sarah Bollinger capitalized on a Blue Devil mistake, scooping up a ground ball and taking it three quarters of the field to score Alma's first goal of 2024 at 10:08.
 
Alma continued to weather the storm from LTU, with the hosts managing to score again with just under 7 minutes to play in the opening quarter. The game was held with no further scoring for around 4 minutes, before LTU broke through, scoring 3 more goals to lead 5-1 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Tech scored 3 more goals to open the second quarter, before Alma was able to answer in the form of Kirsten Browne at 8:46 to go. The hosts clapped back immediately, and then the scoring halted for the remainder of the quarter with the exception of Alma's 2023 leading scorer Sam Peterson tallying her first of '24, assisted by Briar-Rose Mackey, her first career point as a Scot.  The halftime score was 9-3 Tech.
 
Alma struck first out of the break. Joanna Scorziello netted her first of the new campaign, and Bollinger found twine again to bring Alma back to within 4. The Blue Devils scored once to answer, but were held off the sheet thanks to some stout defending from the Scots. After three, LTU was up 10-5. The fourth quarter just didn't go Alma's way, and the Scots were outscored 6-0. The final was 16-5 Lawrence Tech.
 
Sarah Bollinger turned up as the player of the game for Alma. The sophomore scored a pair of goals, collected 7 ground balls, caused 6 turnovers, and secured 3 draw controls in the loss.
 
In goal Cassidy Smith split time with Alexis Norko. Smith collected 4 saves, picking up the loss. Norko made 3 saves.
 
The Scots continue a tough non-conference slate on Friday, with a trip down to Transylvania University. The Pioneers were the 2023 HCAC Conference champs, going 6-0 in the regular season, and backing that up with an HCAC tournament title, and a trip to the NCAA DIII Tournament.