Contact: Tyler Bremner, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

CHICAGO, ILL. (Oct. 1, 2024) – The North Central College women's soccer team traveled for a rematch against the University of Chicago after last facing them in the NCAA tournament. North Central held a lead until the final twenty minutes as Chicago found two goals to pull away.

North Central (8-4, 0-1 CCIW)) did not wait long to drive ahead for the first score as nine minutes in Gabriella Galvez assisted Sarah Andrey to push a 1-0 lead. Feeding off the energy two minutes later, a pass from Elle Sutter helped the next shot from Madison DeVriendt sneak past Sophie Pilarski for an unanswered second goal.

Chicago (8-2) found their first shot on-goal attempt in the 15^th minute as Olivia Mattison tallied her first save of the match. Four minutes later a gap opened on the Cardinal defense for Stella Fishawy to pass to Avery Gallucci to inch back within one. The Maroons continued to hammer the North Central defense over the next ten minutes culminating in a goal from Kaitlyn Gomez to tie the game.

The Cardinals quickly responded under thirty seconds later as Yazmin Martinez soared ahead to assist Kassandra Salviola for a lead-taking goal for a score of 3-2 into halftime.

Entering the second half, the Cardinal defense settled in for the long haul, fending off five shots over the next thirty-seven minutes. In this time North Central's offense failed to put up a single shoot on the Chicago defense.

In the 82nd minute, Mary Stuart Kerrigan found an opportunity to send a goal past Mattison after an assist from Livie Sabloff. With the match tied again, the Cardinals did not muster a response as five minutes later Gomez scored the game-winning goal to seal a 4-3 final score.

In total, the Cardinals were outshot eighteen to six with no shooting attempts made in the second half. Mattison secured the goal for all ninety minutes tallying seven saves.

North Central returns to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on October 9th to face their second CCIW opponent of the season, Augustana College. Access the full schedule HERE.

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