BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's soccer team saw its season come to an end in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament semifinals Wednesday night, Nov. 3, at Neis Field. Second-seeded IWU (9-9-1) could not overcome a flurry of first-half goals by No. 3 seed North Central College in a 6-3 defeat. The nine combined goals are the most in CCIW Tournament history. 

The Cardinals blitzed the Titans for four goals in the first eight minutes to take control, 4-0. NCC scored on two balls played through the IWU defense, a penalty kick, and a recorral of a corner at the 2:03, 2:36, 5:23, and 7:36 marks, respectively.

The Green and White showed plenty of resolve however, responding with three first-half goals of their own. Senior Caelyn Steffens (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) was decked at the top edge of the 18, drawing a free kick in the 11th minute. Stepping to the ball with a five-person wall near the six, Steffens drilled the free kick inside the post to cut the deficit to 4-1.

Junior Lauren Shanks (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic) played a ball to Steffens, who completed the switch to the feet of senior Angelina Kosmas (Palos Park, Ill.-A.A. Stagg) around 25 yards out. Without hesitation, Kosmas collected the pass and launched the first goal of her career to pull IWU within two, 4-2.

The Green and White closed out the first-half scoring frenzy on a set piece in the 40th minute. Steffens stepped to the ball at the corner and played it to the near post, where senior Heather Dietrich (Geneseo, Ill.-Geneseo) flicked it in for IWU's third goal. 

Illinois Wesleyan trailed North Central, 4-3, at the break. NCC held a 15-9 edge in shots, including a 10-6 tally in shots on goal.

With the Titans on the verge of evening the score, the Cardinals capitalized on an IWU turnover near midfield. North Central played the ball up and over, where freshman Kayla Borg (McHenry, Ill.-Cary Grove) stopped the denied any initial attempt, but NCC lofted a deflection up and over. The goal put the Titans down 5-3 with 40 minutes to go. 

The Cardinals added an insurance goal in the 76th minute, to hold off the Titans' comeback. 

Senior Maria Fields (Frankfort, Ill.-Frankfort) made five first-half saves, while Borg added one in the second stanza. 

Illinois Wesleyan concludes the season with a 9-9-1 overall record, including a 7-1 CCIW mark.