NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Sophomore midfielder Courtenay Karls (Waukesha, Wis.) contributed a team-high four goals, including three successful free-position shots, and fielded six groundballs as the Carroll University women's lacrosse team lost to North Central College 14-10 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin regular-season finale at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was the third consecutive conference loss to a top-tier opponent for Carroll, which dropped to 4-3 in conference and 10-5 overall.
The Pioneers, who earned the No. 4-seed in the upcoming four-team CCIW Tournament, will travel to face No. 1-seeded and regular-season champion Illinois Wesleyan in a semifinal game at Tucci Stadium on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
North Central, the No. 3 seed, will meet No. 2-seed University of Chicago in the other first-round showdown.
Carroll was outscored 8-2 in the pivotal first half, including four unanswered goals over the course of the opening seven minutes.
Trailing 12-4 in the second half, the Pioneers showcased their resilience by answering with five consecutive goals over a critical eight-minute stretch.
Carroll trimmed the deficit to 13-10 on an unassisted goal by Karls with 1:59 remaining but couldn't get any closer.
Sophomore midfielder Michaela Johnson (Mukwonago, Wis.) followed with a hat trick, caused three turnovers, won three draw controls and converted on a free-position shot for the Pioneers, who outshot North Central 30-28 - maintaining a 20-19 shot-on-goal advantage.
Senior midfielder Ariannah Ritter (Sun Prairie, Wis.) had two goals with sophomore midfielder Clara Jelacic (Waukesha, Wis.) adding one goal, six groundballs, four caused turnovers and 11 successful draw controls.
Freshman attacker Rachel Fordham (Waukesha, Wis.) collected two assists and sophomore defender Colleen Corter (Chicago, Ill.) had one assist.
Senior goalkeeper Shelby Schoob (Sun Prairie, Wis.) registered five saves in playing the entire 60 minutes.
Junior midfielder Jessica Deetjen finished with four goals and an assist to lead North Central, which improved to 5-2 in conference and 14-3 overall with the Senior Day performance.