NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Graduate student Michaila Furchak (Nyack, N.Y.) eclipsed the 100-point mark, leading the Norwich University women's lacrosse team in a narrow 15-12 loss on Wednesday night to Castleton University on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium in non-conference play.

Furchak was an offensive stalwart, posting four goals while Athena Merck (West Yarmouth, Mass.) logged her first hat trick as a Cadet.  Ellie Moriarty (Stowe, Vt.), Valentina Drown (Acton, Maine), Neris Archambault (Pepperell, Mass.), Julia Proto (Orange, Conn.), and Emma O'Neill (Hamburg, N.Y.) all contributed a goal apiece.

The Cadets fought back from a significant deficit, as the Spartans rolled off the opening draw courtesy of a Phoebe Loomis tally just seconds into the contest.  Castleton continued the onslaught, tallying five goals before O'Neill caught a high pass from Moriarty from behind the net to rip one past Katie Opiela with just 11 seconds left.  Loomis would exact revenge, however, adding a goal just before the buzzer.

After Megan Ward extended Castleton's lead to 7-1, the Cadets' offense sprung to life, rallying for four-straight goals to clip the advantage down to two.  Norwich would get the better of Castleton, scoring three of the next five goals to whittle the Spartans' lead to 9-8.

That would be as close as the Cadets would get, however, as Loomis and back-to-back man-up goals from Ward would push the Spartans out of reach, despite an answer in the waning minutes of the third quarter from Merck. Castleton and Norwich would exchange three goals each throughout the fourth quarter.

Furchak scored her 100th point of her career, registering six points tonight, giving her 71 goals and 33 assists.  Furchak now owns 104 points.

The Cadets out-shot Castleton, 31-29, while owning a 15-10 edge in ground balls.

The tilt marks the final non-conference game of the regular season for Norwich, as the Cadets will now head on the road on Saturday, Mar. 25, for a 1:00 p.m. showdown at Albertus Magnus College.  The Cadets will then wrap-up March on Wednesday, Mar. 29, with a 7:00 p.m. game against Elms College in Northfield.