NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Carroll University women's lacrosse team put together a solid start to push their way to its first CCIW win of the season on Saturday, taking down North Central 17-6 on the road. Katrina Hardin led the team with six goals on ten shots, Clara Jelacic won 13 draw controls, and Ariana Cullam caused four turnovers.
 
The Pioneers (9-2, 1-0 CCIW) held North Central without a shot in the first quarter and put up 14 of their own to set the tone with a six-goal first quarter. Carroll didn't need to record a save until the second half, with both credited to Alicia Van Dale. Carroll forced 23 Cardinal turnovers, and the Pioneers were almost perfect on their clear attempts. Carroll won 20 of 25 draw controls and took six free-position shots in the game.
 
Carroll scored the first goal of the game thanks to Abby Stas' free position goal at the 11:22 mark of the first period. Jelacic won the ensuing draw control and the Pios got on the board three minutes later thanks to a goal from Lexi Kaltenberg. Hardin scored goals three and five of the quarter, while Janu Patel and Stas scored one more each to give the Pios their six-goal advantage. North Central struck first in the second quarter but Hardin got the Pios back up six with her next goal four minutes later. Rebecca Hallman and Hardin each scored once more before the half.
 
Hallman put the Pios' 10^th point on the board to start the second half and Carroll took their first ten-goal lead with 11:22 left in the third, up 12-2. Hardin and Samantha Hurd scored but the Cardinals added one more on a free position attempt with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter. Jelacic scored her first goal of the game in the fourth quarter to give Carroll a 15-4 lead. Hardin and Stas each added one more goal to push North Central away.
 
Carroll will host CCIW foe Elmhurst on Wednesday, April 12 at 5 PM at Schneider Stadium.