WAUKESHA, Wis. - Michaela Johnson finished with a team-high five goals, four assists, six draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover as the Carroll University women's lacrosse team defeated fierce, intra-state league rival Carthage College 17-16 in a tension-filled College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Schneider Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was the second consecutive home-field conference victory for Carroll, which won its seventh straight to improve to 2-0 in the highly contested league standings and 7-1 overall.
The hard-nosed, focused 60-minute performance extended Carroll's home-field winning streak to nine games dating back to February 26, 2020 (a 21-7 nonconference victory over Beloit College in the home opener).
The Pioneers have combined to outscore their opponents by a 120-52 margin in their seven victories this season, including a statement-making 81-25 advantage in the first half (highlighted by a program-record 17 goals in the nonconference home-opener versus Edgewood College on March 6, 2021).
Carroll has maintained a strong, balanced scoring attack, recording 10 or more goals in each of its seven victories.
The Pioneers outscored Carthage 10-7 in the first half, highlighted by five unanswered goals over the course of a key nine-minute stretch.
Johnson, a second-team CCIW all-conference selection in 2019, tied the program record for points in a single game originally established by teammate Clara Jelacic on April 7, 2018.
Courtenay Karls contributed a hat trick, seven draw controls and five ground balls for Carroll, which outshot the Firebirds 39-33 (maintaining a 31-28 shot-on-goal advantage).
Jelacic followed with three goals, five draw controls, a caused turrnover and an assist, scoring what proved to be the winning goal on a free-position shot with 9:29 remaining.
Carroll converted on 6 of 9 free-position shot opportunities in the physical contest.
Katrina Hardin had two goals, two ground balls and an assist for the Pioneers. Alyssa Scharff, Jenna May, Hannah Wenger and Zoe Esveldt each added a goal. Scharff and Rachel Fordham each collected two assists with Emily Anderson adding four ground balls.
Rebecca McDaniel registered seven saves in playing the opening 47 minutes for the Pioneers. Alicia Van Dale had five saves in finishing the final 13 minutes, including a critical save with two seconds left to prevent a potential game-tying goal.
Margaux Giacotto scored a team-best six goals for Carthage, which dropped to 3-4 overall. The Firebirds, playing their conference opener, scored five goals within the final eight minutes but couldn't comeplete the comeback.
Stay up to date on Carroll women's lacrosse by going online to www.gopios.com, or by following the Pioneers on Facebook (Carroll University Athletics), Twitter (@pio_athletics), and Instagram (@pio_athletics)