BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Illinois Wesleyan women's lacrosse team held off a furious rally and defeated the University of Chicago, 8-7, at Tucci Stadium on Wednesday, April 17.

Illinois Wesleyan improved to 12-2 overall and 4-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Maroons are 11-2 overall and are 3-1 in the CCIW.  The Titans outshot the Maroons, 25-16, and had a 17-12 lead in shots on goal.

The game was tied at 4-4 at halftime and IWU reeled off the next four goals in the second half to get an 8-4 lead with 15:37 to play. The Maroons, who had a total of five free position shots in the game, got three goals in the final 7:37 to close the gap to an 8-7 deficit. Two of those goals came from Audrey Kaus, who finished with a game-high four goals.

Senior Grainne Kelly netted three goals and had rwo assists while senior Dani Engelbreit had three goals and one assist. Senior Claudia Richman scored the other two IWU goals. 

IWU keeper Janaye Godfrey made five saves on 12 shots in the win while Honor Crandell made nine saves against 17 shots for Chicago. Illinois Wesleyan 19-14 lead in ground balls retrieved, led by six from Engelbreit and four from Kelly. Chicago was guilty of 25 turnovers to 24 for Illinois Wesleyan.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan plays a CCIW encounter against Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis., at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.