WAUKESHA, Wis. – Carroll closed strong but could not overcome a two-goal deficit Wednesday night, falling 2-1 to St. Olaf at Schneider Stadium. The Oles scored once in each half before the Pioneers broke through in the 88th minute, but time ran out on Carroll's comeback attempt.
St. Olaf controlled much of the possession and generated nine corner kicks in the match, eventually breaking through in the 35th minute when Emily Johnson found the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. Carroll's best first-half chance came off an Ellie Pierson shot on target that was turned away by St. Olaf goalkeeper Charlotte Percy.
The Oles doubled their advantage just over 10 minutes into the second half as Johnson struck again in the 56th minute, making it 2-0. Carroll responded by increasing the pressure late and nearly found momentum through several second-half substitutions that brought fresh energy to the attack.
The breakthrough finally came in the 88th minute. Madelyn Baker scored her first goal of the season off assists from Elli Pease and Michaela Williamson, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and giving the Pioneers hope in the closing moments.
Carroll finished with six shots and two shots on goal, while Baker accounted for the team's lone goal. Carmella Nowak led the Pioneers with two shots, and Pierson recorded Carroll's other shot on target. Goalkeepers Ava Lewandowski and Payton Brose split time in net, with Brose making a save in the second half.
The Pioneers will return to CCIW action on Saturday, traveling to Naperville, Illinois, to take on North Central at 11 a.m.
