NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's lacrosse team wrapped up their regular season with a hard-fought 15-10 setback against Emmanuel College on Tuesday afternoon at Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.

In a battle for the top seed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division, the Cadets saw their 12-game winning streak come to an end as the Saints secured the top spot.

The Cadets matched their conference rivals goal-for-goal through the first half, but a second-half surge by Emmanuel proved decisive.  Despite the loss, Norwich clinched the No. 2 seed in the North Division and will host the South Division's No. 3 seed in the GNAC Quarterfinals on Saturday.

Norwich showcased its depth offensively with eight different Cadets finding the back of the net.  Caitlyn Fielder (East Calais, Vt.) and Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.) led the way with two goals apiece, while Sophie Zemianek (St. Albans, Vt.), Quinn Mustone (Medford, Mass.), Athena Merck (West Yarmouth, Mass.), Ellie Moriarty (Stowe, Vt.), Caitlin Slider (Thetford Center, Vt.), and Neris Archambault (Pepperell, Mass.) all chipped in one goal each.

Fielder continued her standout season with a four-point performance, tallying two assists in addition to her goals.  Mustone, Moriarty, and Julia Gutke (Stockholm, Sweden) each notched one helper as well.

The Cadets caused 16 turnovers as part of a gritty defensive effort, with Ricker and Julia Proto (Orange, Conn.) each registering three caused turnovers.  Norwich also dominated the draw circle, thanks to six draw controls apiece from Ricker and Fielder.  Ricker, Celine Juneau (Chazy, N.Y.), and Bailey Manning-Ingala (West Hartford, Conn.) led the team with four ground balls each.

Manning-Ingala, who entered the day unbeaten in conference play, turned in another solid showing in net with 11 saves over a full 60 minutes.

The game opened with Mustone giving Norwich an early edge, but Emmanuel responded with back-to-back strikes to take the lead.  The Cadets fired back with goals from Merck and Ricker, with the latter coming off a sharp feed from Fielder, to go up 3-2, but the Saints closed the quarter with two goals to reclaim the advantage.

Norwich opened the second with a Zemianek goal off a feed from Moriarty to tie it up, but Emmanuel answered with a 3-0 burst to build a 7-4 cushion.  The Cadets clawed back behind goals from Slider and Fielder, and after another Emmanuel tally, late scores from Moriarty and Fielder brought the game level at 8-8 heading into halftime.

The teams traded goals early in the third before Emmaunel strung together another three-goal run to seize momentum and take a 12-9 lead.  Archambault tallied Norwich's final goal late in the third off a pass from Mustone, but the Saints shut out the Cadets in the fourth quarter to seal the win and the top seed.

The setback marked Norwich's first conference loss of the season and just its second overall, but the Cadets will now look to bounce back as the postseason begins.  Norwich returns to Sabine Field on Saturday, Apr. 26, to host the GNAC Quarterfinals, at a time to be determined.