WAUKESHA, Wis. - Freshman midfielder Clara Jelacic (Waukeha, Wis.) registered a hat trick and an assist as the Carroll University women's lacrosse team lost to North Central College 11-8 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin regular-season finale at Schneider Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was the third consecutive conference loss for Carroll, which finished fourth in the league standings with a 3-3 record and 13-3 overall after the hard-fought Senior Day outing.
North Central, which improved to 5-1 in conference and 15-2 overall, outscored the Pioneers 6-4 in the first half.
The Cardinal led 8-6 with 15:11 remaining and responded with two unasnswered goals over a key five minute stretch to pull away.
Senior attacker Betty Koenig (Sun Prairie, Wis.), junior midfielder Ariannah Ritter (Sun Prairie, Wis.), freshman midfielder Michaela Johnson (Mukwonago, Wis.), freshman midfielder Courtenay Karls (Waukesha, Wis.) and freshman midfielder Alyssa Scharff (Nashotah, Wis.) each added a goal for Carroll, which outshot the Cardinals 33-31 - including a 26-20 shot-on-goal advantage.
Junior goalkeeper Shelby Schoob (Sun Prairie, Wis.) had nine saves in playing the entire way for the Pioneers.
It was the final home game for Koenig and senior defender Emily Gleesing (Big Bend, Wis.).
"It was a very special day and meant a lot to see everyone play with so much heart," said a smiling Gleesing, of her team's tenacious effort throughout the contest. "With all of the success throughout the season, we've been on cloud nine so it was a little surreal to realize it was Senior Day and that it was the final home game of my career.
"I don't think what we accomplished will truly sink in until after the season is over. The potential was always there and to watch the team's steady progression was just an amazing experience. Looking back on the struggles of last year, it's incredible to think of how we turned it around and qualified for the conference tournament. We're extremely excited about competing in the postseason for the first time. It truly took a team effort to make it happen."
Carroll will travel to face top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan in the opening round of the CCIW Tournament on May 2.
"North Central is a very good team, we went toe-to-toe with them for 60 minutes and just came up a little short at the end," said Carroll head coach Michael Hodge, whose team will be making its first postseason appearance in program history. "Regardless of the outcome, we still have a lot to be excited about because our season isn't over yet and now we'll be setting our sights on preparing for the conference tournament.
"We've continued to grow over the course of the season and are looking forward to the next challenge."