CANTON, Ohio - The Malone University women's lacrosse team hosted their third game of the week against Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) opponent Northwood University on Saturday afternoon. In a close battle, the Pioneers (6-4, 1-1 G-MAC) were able to defeat the Timberwolves (3-5, 0-2 G-MAC) 21-17 to earn their first G-MAC win of the season.
 
The Pioneers started quick and aggressive with seven goals in the first period. Junior Cam English scored the first Malone goal at 13:05. Lexi Miller was the only Pioneer with multiple goals in a 7-5 first quarter for the home squad and tallied three points with an assist to Emma Weintz.
 
In the second, the Pioneers opened up the scoring with a goal by Alana Samek. Northwood would battle back with a 5-1 run to take the lead at 10-9 at the 7:35 mark in the quarter. The defenses settled in nicely and kept the score where it was for the remainder of the first half.
 
The third quarter was all Malone with the Pioneers on a 6-2 scoring run. Samek netted back-to-back goals early in the frame while Meg Ridgway and English each found the back of the net while up a man.
 
Malone was able to stretch their lead to 20-12 with just over five minutes left in the game with five consecutive goals in the fourth. The Timberwolves scored the next four goals unanswered to trim the Pioneer lead to 20-16, but Ridgway was able to score a late goal inside of ten seconds to secure the Malone win 21-16 at Pioneer Park.
 
Statistically, the Pioneers won a number of key stats in the close home win. They won ground balls 22-11 and went 20-of-26 on clears. Malone also had a remarkable amount of shots on goal at 34 compared to Northwood's 22. Ridgway would lead the Pioneers in scoring with six individual goals on the afternoon. Right behind Ridgeway was Abbey Burns who contributed with four goals herself. Lela Plouse led the Pioneers with six assists followed by Miller with four.
 
Malone will return to the field for a non-conference matchup with Bethany College on Monday at 4:00 P.M. at Pioneer Park.