Contact: Rachel Balinao, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, rabalinao@noctrl.edu

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Feb. 28, 2026) - In their season and home opener at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, the North Central College women's lacrosse team fell to Hamline University, 18–2, despite a strong opening performance from Mikaela Busse for the Cardinals.

Mikaela Busse put a shot on goal to open the game, forcing Hamline goalkeeper Lola Brouwer to make a save. The Pipers started fast with two goals in the first three minutes. Two minutes later, Hamline added another goal following a ground-ball pickup to take a 3-0 lead. 

Hamline scored four more times in the first quarter before Busse recorded her first goal as a Cardinal on a free-position attempt with North Central a player up. Shortly after, Anaise Kaufman secured a draw control for the Cardinals. North Central finished the quarter with five shots on goal, while the Pipers recorded nine. 

Early in the second quarter, Busse collected a ground ball and fired a shot just wide. Samantha Alis later picked up a ground ball, leading to Busse's second goal at the 14 minute mark, assisted by Anna Williamson, to cut the deficit to 7-2. Hamline responded with five unanswered goals before halftime.

North Central secured the opening draw control of the third quarter. Hamline's goalkeeper stopped three consecutive shots from Busse and another from Williamson. The Pipers then scored four goals to extend the lead to 16-2 at the end of the quarter. 

To open the fourth, Kaufman put a shot on goal, but Hamline goalkeeper Katarina Rice made the save. The Cardinals recorded ground balls from Leah Frystak, Samantha Devens, and Alis. Hamline added another goal after a ground ball pickup and a successful clear to make it 17-2. Ground balls by Alaina Clark and Devens followed before the Pipers capped the scoring with a goal in the final minute to secure the 18-2 win.

Hamline controlled possession, collecting 24 ground balls to North Central's 11. The teams were tied with 11 draw controls each. The Pipers finished with 26 shots on goal compared to the Cardinals' 13. The Cardinals went 1 of 3 on free position attempts, while the Pipers did not attempt one. 

North Central remains at home for its next matchup, hosting Saint Mary's College (Ind.) on Tuesday, March 3, at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.