Contact: Tyler Bremner, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

PITTSBURGH, PA. (Nov. 16, 2024) – The North Central College women's soccer team fell 3-1 in their second program appearance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament against the Illinois Institute of Technology Scarlet Hawks.

North Central (16-5-1, 7-1 CCIW) looked to start out strong earning the first two shots on goal between Jordan Lange in the 3rd minute and Sarah Andrey in the 5th minute. Illinois Tech (19-2-2, 11-0-1 NACC) was held firmly away from shot-on-goal attempts until the 10th minute when Olivia Mattison was forced to tally her first save.

The action continued in the 22nd minute, as Kassandra Salviola ripped one at the Scarlet Hawks' Sarah Thomas in the net for her third stalemate-saving save. Six minutes later a crack opened on the North Central defense for Caitie Chismarich to connect with Amelia Moseman to force a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinal offense failed to respond over the final fifteen minutes, as the Scarlet Hawks put up an unrelenting effort in the final twelve seconds resulting in a goal from Allison Murray, forcing a 2-0 lead into halftime.

Entering the second half, the Cardinals did not wait long to force a goal in just five minutes, as Jordan Lange connected with Elle Sutter to send a header over Thomas.

With North Central now trailing by one, Illinois Tech's offense fired on all cylinders keeping the ball firmly in the Cardinal defensive zone with five shots and three corner kicks over the next ten minutes.

In the 61st minute, the Scarlet Hawks forced a diving save from Mattison to get a corner kick which was fired to Gabriella Baltes to sneak back ahead by two goals. The Cardinals were not allowed another shot attempt over the final twenty-eight minutes of the match to seal the score at 3-1.

In total, the Cardinals were outshot nineteen to five while Mattison kept their hopes alive with six saves over all ninety minutes.

The Cardinals ended the season with their second consecutive CCIW Tournament victory and marked their program's second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

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