Contact: Rachel Balinao, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, rabalinao@noctrl.edu

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Mar. 14, 2026) - Traveling to Spalding University for the final game of spring break, the North Central College women's lacrosse team battled back to take a brief lead but could not hold on, falling 10-5 on Saturday afternoon. Samantha Alis and Camille Krekeler each scored two goals, powering the Cardinals' mid-game rally.

Spalding struck early, scoring on a free position opportunity just two minutes into the contest to take a 1-0 lead over the Cardinals. The Golden Eagles quickly added two more unassisted goals to push ahead 3-0. North Central answered with strong defense, forcing a shot clock violation during a Spalding player-up situation in the first quarter. 

With about four minutes remaining in the opening period, Samantha Alis earned a free position chance and converted, cutting the Cardinals' deficit to 3-1.

The second quarter opened with Anaise Kaufman attempting a free position shot for North Central, though it was blocked by the Golden Eagles. Both teams showcased solid defensive efforts in the first seven minutes, but Spalding managed to extend its lead to 4-1. The Cardinals responded quickly when Susie Bongiorno scooped up a ground ball and help start a successful clearance that lead to Camille Krekeler scoring, bringing the score to 4-2. 

Alis then struck again on her second free position opportunity, putting North Central within one at 4-3 with under three minutes remaining in the half.

The Cardinals surged in the third quarter, CC Rovik collected a ground ball to spark a Cardinal clearance, and Kaufman fired a shot that tied the game at 4-4. Moments later, Krekeler scored her second goal of the day, giving North Central its first lead of the game at 5-4. Spalding did not allow North Central to have the lead for long as the Golden Eagles responded on a player-up situation to tie it. Then, Spalding scored again later in the quarter on another player-up opportunity to take a 6-5 lead into the final period. 

In the fourth quarter, North Central worked to regain momentum. Krekeler collected a ground ball, and both Kaufman and Mikaela Busse fired shots on goal, but Spalding's defense held. The Golden Eagles added two more goals with less than five minutes remaining, extending their lead to 8-5, and sealed the 10-5 win with two late goals.

Alis and Krekeler each finished with two goals, both on three shots. Alis also led the team in ground balls with three, while Rovik made five saves in goal.

North Central finished the game with 16 shots, nine on goal, and was perfect on clearances (13-for-13). The Cardinals converted two of four free position opportunities, collected 13 ground balls compared to Spalding's 15, and tied the Golden Eagles with six draw controls.

North Central returns to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois, on March 17 to host Concordia University (Wis.) at 6 p.m.