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

Sept. 27, 2025 - The North Central College women's soccer team showcased an explosive offensive front in its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener against Carroll University (3-2-3, 0-1-0), Saturday, Sept. 27, defeating the Pioneers 5-1 inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, as the Cardinals move to 5-5 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. 

North Central was led by Lucy Burk's pair of goals and a trio of assists by Jordan Lange. Yazmin Martinez, Kassandra Salviola and Kara Waishwell also got in on the scoring action in the Saturday matinee. 

The Cardinals looked to get ahead early as Madison DeVriendt sent a cross into the box for Brooke Nelson to get a shot off but the Carroll goalkeeper corralled the stop. Martinez took a long-range shot in the 15th minute that ricocheted off the crossbar with Dylan Moeller attempting a rebound shot that went wide.

It was not until the 26th minute that North Central broke the stalemate with Martinez burying a goal to the top left, just out of reach of the Pioneers' keeper. It marks the first goal for Martnez this season, after a five-game hiatus due to injury. 

Carroll answered with a high cross into the box with the Pioneers' Harlie Seuser bodying through the North Central defense to score on a volley and level the score at 1-1. Carroll took the momentum back after the goal, pressing North Central's backline in the last 10 minutes of the half. 

The second half saw North Central deliver multiple crosses into the box before playing a ball to the outside flank to Waishwell. Waishwell fed the ball back in to Lucy Burk who tapped it into the lower corner of the goal for the 2-1 advantage.

Carroll had their first scoring chance of the second half in the 57th minute but the ball was hit off the crossbar. Two minutes later, Lange drew her defender down the line with her foot skills leaving space for a pass into a free-running Burk, who scored down the middle for a two-goal, 3-1, lead. 

Thanks to a Carroll handball outside the box, Lange was in prime position for a quick pass to Salviola. Salviola took a great touch to set herself up for a left handed shot into the top corner for a three-goal cushion in the 61st minute.

North Central kept the Pioneers quiet the rest of the way, putting the game out of reach with a 72nd-minute goal. Utilizing a corner service, Reese Anderson fed a short pass to Waishwell for a long-range goal outside of the box. 

Waishwell, Salviola, and Martinez all scored their first goals of the season while Burk's brace was her second and third goals this year. Jordan set a game-high with her three assists. 

North Central's offense dominated the contest with 26 shots compared to Carroll's five through 90 minutes. The Cardinals had six corner kick opportunities while the Pioneers had just one. Carroll's keeper Ava Lewandowski totaled seven saves while North Central had Lily Mattison in goal for 78 minutes and Emma Megerle in goal for just under 12 minutes where she totaled one save. 

The Cardinals host Trine University during Homecoming Weekend with a noon kickoff Saturday, Oct. 4.