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Contact: Elliott Carr, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
 
Box Score

May 4., 2016 – Despite their best efforts, the North Central College women's lacrosse team were defeated 9-6 by Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday night, in a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) tournament semi-final on Wednesday night at Tucci Stadium.

The first half was a high-quality affair, and showed just how evenly matched the Cardinals and Titans are. The Cardinals got off to a positive start, with senior Gina Fisher scoring with 25:12 on the clock, however the Titans would bounce back to score not long after.

With the scores tied at 1-1, as she has done so often this season, senior Claire Norfleet an assist to junior Kassie Whaling with 13:25 remaining, putting the Cardinals back on top. Junior Madison Maas would then extend the lead to 3-1, thanks to an assist from junior Nikki Merriss with 7:25 left in the half.

Unfortunately for North Central, the Titans would score twice before halftime and level the scores 3-3, ensuring the outcome would be decided in the final 30 minutes.

The second half began much like the first, with the Cardinals opening the scoring. This time it was Maas, scoring her second goal of the game, putting the points on the board off a Fisher assist with 25:03 left in the half. Determined not to let the game slip away, the Titans bounced back and scored less than a minute later.

With 24:02 remaining, Norfleet scored to again give the Cardinals the advantage 5-4. The advantage would be short-lived, as the Titans would score four goals in succession, leaving the Cardinals with a 8-5 deficit with 11:25 to play.

Despite the deficit, there was no quit in the Cardinals as Maas would again score with 10:25 on the clock. The Titans would then go on to score with 24 seconds remaining, sealing them the victory.

Maas had a team-high three goals, while Norfleet and Fisher each had one assist, leading the way in that category. Fisher also led the team in draw controls with five, and ground balls with 12, and caused turnovers with three.

Regardless of the outcome of tonight's game, the 2016 season has been a memorable one for the Cardinals. There were a plethora of individual records broken, and most significant of all, a new single-season wins record was set as the team won 13 games. The standards of excellence for North Central College women's lacrosse was well and truly raised in 2016.