NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Carroll University women's soccer carried a one-goal advantage into halftime Saturday afternoon, but a pair of late goals lifted North Central College to a 3-2 victory over the Pioneers at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The result moved Carroll to 2-4-7 overall and 1-1-1 in CCIW play.
North Central opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Victoria Jaimes found the back of the net off an assist from Kara Waishwell. Carroll responded less than 10 minutes later as Carmella Nowak scored her second goal of the season in the 25th minute to even the match at 1-1.
The Pioneers needed just over three minutes to strike again. Madison Milhaupt put Carroll in front in the 29th minute, scoring her first goal of the season to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage heading into halftime. Carroll generated 11 shots in the opening 45 minutes compared to seven for North Central.
Momentum shifted after the break as the Cardinals pressured the Carroll defense, recording 13 second-half shots. Payton Brose helped protect the lead with four saves in the second half before North Central eventually found the equalizer. Reese Anderson tied the match at 2-2 in the 76th minute.
With just over five minutes remaining, North Central completed the comeback. Baylee Burbidge scored in the 85th minute off an assist from Madison DeVriendt to give the Cardinals a 3-2 advantage that held through the final whistle.
Nowak led Carroll's attack with six shots, putting three on goal, while Carroll finished with 12 total shots and five on target. Brose recorded six saves after entering in the first half, while Ava Lewandowski made one save during her 11-plus minutes in goal.
Carroll will continue CCIW play on Wednesday when the Pioneers travel to Wheaton for a 7 p.m. conference clash.
