FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Box Score

Apr. 8, 2014 - The North Central College women's lacrosse team totaled 17 goals in two wins over Carthage College last season. The Cardinals posted the same number of goals in Tuesday's contest against Carthage, and wound up needing every one as North Central fended off a late rally and scored a 17-16 win over the Lady Reds in Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference action at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The victory, accomplished despite allowing their highest goal total of the season, keeps the Cardinals (5-3, 4-0 MWLC) in a first-place tie with Augustana College at the top of the MWLC standings. North Central travels to take on the Vikings on Apr. 22.

After a back-and-forth opening 10 minutes, the Cardinals threatened to pull away with a run of six straight goals midway through the first period. Trailing, 4-3, after three consecutive Carthage scores, the Cardinals pulled even on Rachael Houp's goal with 19:48 left in the first half, then pulled ahead on Jamie Legner's first goal of the season less than two minutes later. Madison Maas connected for two straight scores and Adelaide Dieckmeyer and Claire Norfleet each followed with one as the hosts opened up a 9-4 advantage. The teams traded goals twice in the final eight minutes and North Central went into halftime owning a 11-6 lead.

Carthage (6-4, 4-1) still trailed by a 16-12 count late in the second period before getting its comeback effort started. The Lady Reds' Sydney Whitaker scored her fourth and fifth goals of the second half in a 28-second span before Madison Griffin scored two goals of her own and tied the score with 6:14 to play.

 The Cardinals got back in front with what turned out to be the game-winner with 4:58 to play, as Kassie Whaling found the net on an assist by Jordyn McFarlane. The North Central defense then came up big twice in the final two minutes to seal the win, as goalkeeper Sandy Stasaitis stopped a free-position shot and Gina Fisher caused a turnover on the Lady Reds' final possession. Kailey Robbins followed by scooping up the ground ball and the Cardinals cleared the ball away for the final time, giving North Central its third straight one-goal win over Carthage.

Houp scored a team-high four goals for North Central, while Fisher scored three, each coming on free-position shots. Fisher also finished with two assists, giving her a North Central-record 33 for her career, along with seven draw controls and six ground balls. Stasaitis stopped eight shots on goal.

Lauren Chatham led all scorers with six goals for Carthage. Maya Varma collected five draw controls and Griffin totaled five ground balls.

North Central returns to action next Tuesday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, hosting Concordia University Wisconsin (7-3, 4-1) at 7 p.m. Links to live video coverage and in-game statistics can be accessed by clicking HERE.