Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Box Score

DALLAS, Texas (Sept. 3, 2017) - While the outcome of the weekend's trip was not what the team had hoped for, the North Central College women's soccer team can hold their heads high from a valiant effort against the University of Texas-Dallas on Saturday, despite falling 2-1 at the Comet Soccer Complex in Dallas, Texas.

The Comets made it clear they were there to compete after Nique Enloe scored in the opening minute of the game off of an assist from Keely Fillman and Jacquie Kaufman. Despite ten more shot attempts in the first half, the Cardinals were able to keep their opponent at bay going into the half thanks to Gretchen Frantz's goal keeping and a team effort on the defensive end.

North Central came out with fire in the second half, determined to make the Comets work for every possession. After both Anna Brodjian and Lexi Dimovski took a combined four shot attempts, Dimovski was able to find the back of the net off of a rebound from a free kick in the 56th minute. With the score tied 1-1, the Cardinals were back in the game, both mentally and on the board.

The Comets were not going to go down without a fight, challenging Frantz in goal with three more shots in ten minutes. Frantz was able to make the saves with ease, but a penalty kick off of a North Central yellow card put the Comets ahead 2-1 in the 65th minute.

With 25 minutes remaining in the game, the Cardinals gave their greatest effort on both ends of the field, but ultimately could not pull through as time expired.

The Comets controlled the board with 24 shot attempts to the Cardinals' ten. Dimovski led the team with her goal and five shots, followed by Taylor Piggott with two and Brodjian, Annabelle Steiner, and Catherine Kent with one apiece. Frantz led both teams in goal with her career-high eight saves to the Comets' five.

"This trip was well worth it to play against good competition," said head coach Andrew Gamarra. "We didn't schedule easy games to start because we know that our conference is going to be very competitive and every game will be a challenge. We really changed the game in the second half as our girls continued to work and started to become calmer. We are learning game by game and I know we will be in the win column soon."

The Cardinals (0-2) return to Naperville for a week of practice to prepare for their Sept. 9 game at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. Game time is set for 1 P.M and live in-game coverage can be found HERE.