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Group Celebration 10
1
Millikin MILLIKIN (3-11-2)
2
Winner Carroll CARROLL (8-6-3)
Millikin MILLIKIN
(3-11-2)
1
Final
2
Carroll CARROLL
(8-6-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Millikin MILLIKIN 0 1 1
Carroll CARROLL 0 2 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | By Jeff Hagenau

Pioneers celebrate Senior Night with dramatic conference victory

Zanon converts winning goal in the 87th minute as Carroll defeats Millikin 2-1 in season finale

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Kaitlyn Zanon had a feeling something special was about to happen.
Zanon, a 5-foot-2 sophomore midfielder from Waukesha, Wis., scored the winning goal on a hard-lining, high-rising 30-yard shot from the left hash at the 86:54 mark to lead the Carroll University women's soccer team to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Millikin University in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin season finale at Schneider Stadium on Saturday evening.
It was the second conference victory for Carroll, which finished with back-to-back home-field victories to end the season 2-4-2 in league and 8-6-3 overall with the emotionally charged Senior Night effort honoring the lasting contributions of defender Amber Goodreau (Sussex, Wis.), defender Lisa Harwardt (Lake Zurich, Ill.), midfielder/defender Katie Antony (Kenosha, Wis.), goalkeeper Christina O' Block (Libertyville, Ill.), defender Brittany Stepanian (Island Lake, Ill.) and team manager/former player Courtney Hodges (Roscoe, Ill.).
On the tension-filled game-winning sequence in the 87th minute, junior forward Brookelyn Campbell (Oconomowoc, Wis.) took possession, methodically worked past a defender in the middle of the field and delivered a crossing pass to Harwardt on the left side.
Harwardt dribbled forward and abruptly made a quick pass inside toward the middle where freshman midfielder Lauren Victorin (Downer's Grove, Ill.) tapped the ball back past freshman midfielder/forward Simone Lippmann (Lindenhurst, Ill.) to a wide open Zanon.
Seconds later, Zannon planted her foot and fired the dramatic shot that landed just above the outstretched arms of the Millikin goalkeeper and into the back of the net to set off an instant jubilant on-field celebration. 
"I knew it was good as soon as the ball left my foot," said an ecstatic, smiling Zanon, of her memorable fourth goal of the season. "It was a perfect ball put right in my line, I got over the top of it and just put everything into the shot. Looking back, it was just an awesome, unreal experience so I was glad to be able to end it and get one more victory for our seniors.
It was a little rough at times because we were having a tough time scoring but when it came down to the end we chose not to lay down and fought for the victory. We've practiced that type of play the entire season so to have it come together in the final game of season was shocking. It's hard to describe and put into words. Being only sophomore, it was one of the biggest shots of my career. I'm just very proud of how everyone rose to the occasion."
Following a scoreless first half, Millikin responded with the first goal of the contest as Maddy Wood finished on an assist from Lucy Koger in the 78th minute.
Carroll, which generated 13 corner kicks, showcased its resilience as sophomore forward Erika Hess (Green Bay, Wis.) scored off an assist from Zanon in the 83rd minute - setting the stage for the tension filled high-lining 25-yard game-winning shot.
O' Block registered six saves in playing the entire 90 minutes to preserve a victory - including a critical save with 28 seconds remaining.
"The past four years have been amazing so to be able to defend our home turf and get a victory in the final game of the season meant the world to me," O' Block said. "We came together as one for sure, played for each other and eventually came away with the W. I love this team, the culture we have built and it was great to end on a high note."
The Pioneers outshot Millikin by a 20-13 margin - maintaining a 9-7 shot-on-goal advantage.
The Big Blue ended the season 1-7 in conference and 3-11-2 overall.
Carroll eighth-year head coach Susie Foster was proud of the way her young, scrappy squad made the most of the opportunity to play at home one more time and came away with arguably its biggest victory of the year.
"When time finally ran out, everyone was ecstatic and overflowing with emotion in the moment," said Foster, whose team finished with an impressive 6-1-2 home-field record. "So much goes into each season and to have it come down to one last home game and a dramatic goal to win it for the seniors was extra-special. Before the game, we talked about effort and that we didn't want to settle for anything less than a victory. Everyone on both the field and sideline believed in our ability to win so it was exciting to finish it off with such a memorable goal.
"With Millikin having scored late to tie the game, it added an extra element of pressure but the winning shot exemplified how we continued to compete throughout the season. We were composed, trusted in the process and the success came to fruition. It couldn't have been a better storybook ending with the way it finished. This game couldn't have been any more exciting and the memory will last a lifetime. It was just a phenomenal effort."
The team's six seniors were fittingly honored during an emotional, enthusiastic post-game ceremony to round out the night.
"I can't say enough special things about this amazing group," Foster added. "It takes unbelievable dedication and commitment to play a collegiate sport for four years and their amount of success was incredible. They were part of so many special moments (including 41 victories, being the first full group to be a part of the new era CCIW, two consecutive CCIW Tournaments appearances, an undefeated season at home and multiple regional rankings). To be honest, the most important thing is what you won't see in any book or stat sheet. It's their resiliency, leadership and the commitment they had to making the program great. This group has truly done an outstanding job of teaching the younger players what it means to fight and brought out the best in everyone. I can't thank them enough for the legacy they have left. They will be missed."


 
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