MARQUETTE, Mich. — After a new assistant coach hire, the best GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll ranking in program history and two schedule changes, Griffon Lacrosse will finally begin the 2023 season this weekend at the Superior Dome.

GET TO KNOW YOUR GRIFFS
Ranked third in the GLVC while only in year three, the Griffons are coming off their best season in their short existence, going 8-9 overall in 2022. During the offseason, Jessica Berg was promoted from interim lead to full-time head coach last May. Berg's first order of business in June was to hire Assistant Coach Ariannah Ritter, a fellow former collegiate lacrosse player making the transition from the field to the sideline. 

Back alongside Berg is junior attacker Madison Brady, a 2021 All-GLVC Second Team member who was tied for first on the 2022 squad with 35 points. Brady also finished second on the team with 27 goals, two behind returning All-GLVC Second Team player Sam Pruitt. The sophomore midfielder led all Griffs with 29 goals, including a team-high two game-winning goals. Junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Porter rounds out MWSU's All-GLVC Second Team returners, who recorded 143 saves for a second-straight season in 2022. good enough for second in the conference.

Missouri Western also brings back All-GLVC Honorable Mention K.C. Ossello, a junior middie who is the only returning Griffon to play in and start all 17 games last season. All in all, the Griffons bring back 14 players from 2022, introducing 11 new players into the fray. The Griffons' biggest accomplishment from Berg's first season at the helm was leading all of Division II with 13.9 forced turnovers per game.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Northern Michigan (0-0) | Feb. 25, 4 p.m. CST
The Wildcats are also making their 2023 debut after going 9-8 a year prior. This is Northern Michigan's seventh season in existence, first starting in 2017. The Wildcats fell in the first round of the 2022 GLIAC Tournament to Grand Valley State, 23-2.

Missouri Western met Northern Michigan last season on March 3, where the Wildcats won, 14-12, at Spratt Stadium. The Griffons tied the game at 12-12 thanks to a Tamrin Swann goal with 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter. However, Northern Michigan scored two goals in the span of 56 seconds to close out the only meeting between these two young programs.

Head Coach
The Wildcats are led by fourth-year Head Coach Lindsey Majkrzakm, who is 17-19 in her career. Majkrzak's 2022 campaign was the first time Northern Michigan finished with a winning record, as the Wildcats' nine wins marked an all-time program-high.

Concordia-Ann Arbor (0-0) | Feb. 26, 11 a.m. CST
An NAIA team, the Cardinals come into their seventh season all-time after going 6-10 in 2022. It was Concordia-Ann Arbor's first losing record since going 3-12 in 2018. 

Head Coach
Autumn Moore enters her second season as head coach for Concordia-Ann Arbor. In her first season at the helm of the Cardinal program, Moore coached one CoSIDA Academic All-American, two CoSIDA Academic All-District and three Cardinals to a WHAC All-Conference team. Five Cardinals have been named to the WHAC All-Academic team under Moore.