Romeoville, Ill. – The Carroll University women's lacrosse team opened their 2021 season after missing the majority of their 2020 season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The women faced off a tough Division II Lewis University team, falling 6-16. Senior Courtenay Karls led the way with three goals off three free-position shots, all in the second half. Sophomore Rebecca McDaniel led with eight ground balls and recorded a career-high 13 saves.
 
The Pioneers (0-1, 0-0 CCIW) flung shots at the Flyers' goalkeeper, but only 15 were on goal compared to Lewis's 29. The Pios had to knock the rust off in the first half, surrendering 13 turnovers but cleaned it up in the second half with only 7. The Pios caused six of the 19 Flyers turnovers, three coming from freshman Ashlyn Phaneuf. The women struggled to get draw controls, only tallying six all game. The Pios played physical, but that led to four Pioneer yellow cards.
 
Lewis opened the game with the first goal within the first two minutes after two failed clear attempts by Carroll. Senior Michaela Johnson evened the score at one at the 23:01 mark in an unassisted goal. Lewis responded with a 3-0 run in two minutes. Johnson scored again with 15:24 left in the first period, this time off an assist from Scharff. McDaniel came in for freshman Aisling Finnegan to stay at keeper for the remainder of the game. Lewis ripped off four more goals to go up six. Johnson had a chance to cut into the lead with a free position shot but hit the post with under four minutes remaining. The Pios stayed down six going into halftime.
 
 Freshman Zoe Esveldt scored her first career goal off a free position shot at the 26:31 mark in the second period. Sophomore Emily Anderson (3 DC, 1 GB) grabbed the draw control after the Pio goal, leading to a Karls free position shot. Karls scored two straight goals on free position shots in just a minute, cutting the Lewis lead to three with 24:09 left to play. The Flyers responded with four straight goals, and the Pios could not score even off five shots on goal. Karls finally scored again with 7:12 to play off another free position shot to cut the lead to six. Lewis finished by scoring four more goals in a row, down to the final minute.
 
The women will play their next game back in Schneider Stadium Saturday, March 6 against Edgewood College. This will be the first matchup between the Eagles and the Pioneers in women's lacrosse.