WAUKESHA, Wis. - Difficult early season nonconference matchups can often test the mettle of a young, hard-working team looking to consistently play up to its potential.
The Carroll University women's lacrosse team experienced that firsthand as it lost to high-powered Calvin College 10-5 in a frigid nonconference game at Schneider Stadium on Friday night.
It was the first loss of the young season for Carroll, which dropped to 1-1 overall.
The Pioneers led 3-2 at the intermission but were outscored 8-2 in the decisive second half, including seven unanswered goals over the course of the final 20 minutes.
Sophomore midfielder Clara Jelacic (Waukesha, Wis.) scored three goals to lead Carroll, which generated 22 shots to equal Calvin's offensive output. Sophomore midfielders Courtenay Karls (Waukesha, Wis.) and Alyssa Scharff (Nashotah, Wis.) each added a goal. Senior defender Delaney Pruitt (Ringwood, Ill.) had a team-high two assists.
Carroll reclaimed a 4-3 lead on a free-position goal by Karls at the 27:37 mark of the second half and increased the margin a minute later as Jelacic scored off an assist from Karls.
The high-energy Karls left the game with an injury a short time later and didn't return - a costly loss that became a critical turning point in the contest.
"Courtenay was playing an amazing game so when she came out it became a factor," Carroll head coach Michael Hodge said. "After that happened, they were able to isolate us on offense and we just weren't able to capitalize on some of the open opportunities.
"Under those type of circumstances, we just have to learn to take a next-man-up mentality and be ready for anything. Even though we came out on the losing side, it was a good experience to go up against a proven NCAA Tournament-caliber team early on in the season. We certainly did a nice job of controlling the first 40 minutes of the game but they gradually came back, answered with a few key goals in the second half to take the lead and it gradually deflated us.
"Being a young team, it was the type of game that will only help us as we move forward. We're excited about our progress and looking forward to the rest of the season."
Senior goalkeeper Shelby Schoob (Sun Prairie, Wis.) registered seven saves in playing the entire 60 minutes for the Pioneers. 
Freshman midfielder Megan Gilbert scored a game-high five goals and added two assists to lead Calvin, which improved to 2-1 overall.
The Knights have won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship the past three seasons.