NAPERVILLE, Ill. — In a weather-shortened game, Illinois Tech women's lacrosse fell to North Central College 4-1 at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, Tuesday evening. The game was called with 14:34 remaining in the fourth quarter due to oncoming weather. The game was delayed 57 minutes after a lightning delay with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter. Despite the loss, Scarlet Hawks' goalkeeper
Samantha Gargiulo was a standout performer with 14 saves, anchoring the defense.
Illinois Tech now holds a record of 0-5, while North Central sits at 2-2.
How It Happened
The opening quarter saw a stalemate between the Scarlet Hawks and the Cardinals, with both sides struggling to capitalize on their chances. Gargiulo was pivotal for Illinois Tech, making multiple key saves, including a notable stop on a shot by Anna Williamson at 11:13. North Central's Mikaela Busse was persistent on offense, but her efforts were thwarted by Gargiulo time and again. Despite turnovers and missed clears from both teams, the quarter ended scoreless in this defensive duel.
Busse broke through early in the second quarter for the Cardinals, giving them a 1-0 lead at 14:29. Illinois Tech's turnovers proved costly, allowing Williamson to push North Central ahead 2-0 at 5:42, with an assist from Camille Krekeler. The Scarlet Hawks, led by Gargiulo's multiple saves, kept the Cardinals at bay for the rest of the quarter despite ongoing pressure. A timeout by Illinois Tech after Williamson's goal aimed to regroup the team, but offensive momentum proved elusive as the quarter wrapped up.
In the third quarter, both teams found the net once. The Cardinals scored first with a player-up goal by Williamson at 10:56 after a series of fouls. The Scarlet Hawks answered back when
Antonia Martinez found the net at 6:35, leveling the quarter's score. Gargiulo continued her stellar performance with crucial saves, including a denial of Busse at 2:10. A lightning delay paused the action briefly, but both teams resumed with defensive intensity, and Illinois Tech cleared several attempts. The quarter finished with the Scarlet Hawks trailing 3-1.
Just 26 seconds into the fourth quarter, Busse struck again for the Cardinals with a player-up goal, assisted by Williamson, extending their lead. The quarter concluded without further scoring, and the game wrapped up with North Central claiming a 4-1 victory over Illinois Tech.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
Samantha Gargiulo
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- 14 saves
- 22 shots faced
Antonia Martinez
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- 1 goal
- 3 shots
- 2 shots on goal
Jenny Park
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- 2 shots
- 1 shot on goal
North Central College Top Performers
Mikaela Busse
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- 2 goals
- 9 shots on goal
- 1 player-up goal
Anna Williamson
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- 2 goals
- 1 game-winning goal
- 1 assist
CC Rovik
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- 4 saves
- 1 goal allowed
Game Notes:
- Illinois Tech is 0-3 all-time against North Central College.
- The team recorded 14 saves, surpassing their season average of 10.25.
-
Ellie Post reached a season-high with 3 ground balls.
Up Next
Illinois Tech hits the road to face Hanover College on Saturday, March 14. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. in Hanover, Indiana.
