Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302
 
Sept. 24, 2025 – Facing its fourth ranked opponent this season, the North Central College women's soccer team fell in a narrow 2-1 loss to No. 8 University of Chicago Wednesday night, Sept. 27, inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals dip to 4-5 on the year while the Maroons move to 7-0-1.
 
North Central's defense put up an aggressive front throughout the half, holding UChicago to just nine shots while taking five of their own in the first 45 minutes.
 
UChicago got out ahead in the 16^th minute after some back-to-back action got the game going. The Maroons' Kamiryn Braxton Grimes scored off a double assist from Lucy Harrison-Caldwell and Ella Cho to take a 1-0 lead.
 
North Central found its opportunity to level the score in the 31^st minute. Kara Waishwell sent a cross in off the throw in from Gabriella Mattio where Lucy Burk capitalized and buried it in the back of the net to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
UChicago managed just one more shot before the break, with Mackenzie Loomis tracking down a Maroon attacker in the final seconds of the opening half for a key takeaway to keep the score deadlocked at 1-1 at halftime.
 
Kassandra Salviola and the Cardinal offense ramped up the pressure out of the break, with Salviola looking to move ahead with a pair of shots at the start of the second half. The first came from a free kick reset after a Maroon yellow card, but UChicago's keeper made the stop before Salviola's second shot went wide.
 
A minute later, the Maroons drove the ball upfield and delivered a one-two pass for the goal and took a 2-1 lead in the 54^th minute. Jordan Lange had a chance to bring it back even in the 63^rd minute, but the shot ricocheted off the top of the woodwork.
 
North Central managed to hold the Maroons to just two shots in the second half as the score remained 2-1 when time expired. For the contest, UChicago took 11 shots with four on goal while North Central took 10 shots with three on goal. The Maroons' keeper and Cardinal goalie Lily Mattison recorded two saves apiece. Burk's goal was her first for the season, with Waishwell recording her third assist on the year.
 
The Cardinals are set to host Carroll University Saturday, Sept. 27, for their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener. The 11 a.m. contest inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium will serve as the first half of a double feature with the North Central men's soccer team's 1 p.m. match.