Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302

CLAREMONT, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2025) – Facing a tough challenge in its season opener, the North Central College women's soccer team fell 3-0 to No. 19 Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont, Calif. Friday evening. The Cardinals slip to 0-1 on the season while Pomona-Pitzer moves to 1-0 to start the year.

Brooke Nelson took the first shot on goal in the 11^th minute but the attempt was thwarted by the Sagehens goalie. Pomona-Pitzer managed to break the stalemate in the 21^st minute to move ahead 1-0.

Pomona-Pitzer tried to extend its lead, putting two more shots on goal before the half's end but Cardinal goalkeeper Lily Mattison added two saves to her stat line early on. Reese Anderson took the final shot of the opening half, sending it low to no avail with Pomona-Pitzer's Patricia DePalma ready for the stop.

The Sagehens controlled the opening half with seven shots to North Central's three, with both keepers tallying two stops through the first 45 minutes.

Out of the break, Mattison stopped a high Pomona-Pitzer shot, sparking the Cardinal defense to go to work. North Central gained position in the 48^th minute as Jordan Lange took a low shot to try and get on the board. The Sagehens, rotating their goalies, managed to stay ahead as Hadley Johnson picked up the stop.

Pomona-Pitzer attempted three more shots around the 50-minute mark, with two missing the mark and one being blocked by the Cardinal defense. The Cardinals slipped further as the Sagehens put away another goal in the 60^th minute to take a two-goal lead.

North Central took six more shots in the remaining 30 minutes of play with Yazmin Martinez and Sophia Hein putting two on goal, but ultimately were unable to crack the scoreboard. Pomona-Pitzer scored once more in the 77^th minute to put away the 3-nil victory over the Cardinals.

In total, North Central trailed in shots 15-10 while putting five on goal compared to the Sagehen's seven. Mattison spent all 90 minutes in goal and totaled four saves on the evening.

North Central turns its attention to the second leg of its California trip as the Cardinals head to Redlands, Calif. for a match with the University of Redlands Sunday, Aug. 31. Game time is set for 11 a.m. PT at Farquhar Fields.