Lily Mayer battles defender for possession
Mark Black
4
Winner North Central (IL) NOR (12-0-1, 5-0-1)
2
Carthage CAR (3-6-6, 0-3-2)
Winner
North Central (IL) NOR
(12-0-1, 5-0-1)
4
Final
2
Carthage CAR
(3-6-6, 0-3-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
North Central (IL) NOR 1 3 4
Carthage CAR 1 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Women’s Soccer Tops Carthage, Remains Unbeaten in CCIW

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

KENOSHA, Wis. (Oct. 17, 2026) – Despite trading goals with Carthage College for much of the match, the North Central College women's soccer team pulled away for a 4-2 victory over the Firebirds Saturday evening. The Cardinals improved to 12-0-1 overall and 5-0-1 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play, remaining the conference's only unbeaten team with two league matches left in the regular season.

In the 14th minute, North Central put a shot on goal that was saved by the Carthage keeper who was unable to fully corral the ball. Baylee Burbidge scored on the second chance deflection as the Cardinals went up 1-0.

Carthage took its third corner kick in the 23rd minute, placing the ball well in the center of the box but North Central's defensive wall prevented the Firebirds from getting a clean look as the shot opportunity soared high. 

The Firebirds scored the equalizer in the 38th minute with a quick turn and burn off the left foot of Peyton Olinski. 

Carthage put up an aggressive front in the opening half, leading 6-4 in shots but North Central led in accuracy with all four shots being on goal while the Firebirds had just three on target. The Firebirds also had all five corner kicks in the first 45 minutes.

Precise ball movement by the Cardinals set up a great look as Madison DeVriendt passed it in from the flank before Reese Anderson had a one-touch setup for Claire Georgees to score the go-ahead goal in the 51st minute. 

DeVriendt wasted no time putting another shot on goal but the Firebirds goalie made the stretch to knock it out resulting in a Cardinal corner kick, their first of the contest.

In the 60th minute, Carthage broke away with enough space to score its second equalizer of the match but just six minutes later Lily Mayer took her defender one-on-one and fired a shot from range to the far corner of the net to give North Central the 3-2 advantage. 

The Cardinals added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute as Anderson's shot was turned away by the goalkeeper, but Gabriella Mattio followed the play and buried the rebound in the bottom-right corner to seal North Central's 4-2 victory.

North Central took 11 shots in the contest, all of which were on goal while Carthage took nine shots with five on target. The Firebirds led 6-3 in corner kicks and had seven saves compared to Emma Megerle's three. 

North Central will host Wheaton College for a CCIW contest on Wednesday, Oct. 21, Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
 
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