BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team's comeback effort came up short in overtime to Carroll University in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play Saturday, April 2, at Tucci Stadium. The Titans dip to 2-9 overall and 0-1 in league games with the setback, while the Pioneers climb to 6-3, 2-0.

A Carroll turnover and a clutch ground ball by freshman Mallory Mills (Schaumburg Ill.-Conant) sent IWU off on the attack early. Junior Sarah Gleason (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) finished off a good clear attempt with a pass to sophomore Britney Maldonado (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-Conant) for the game's first goal. Maldonado buried the shot for her third goal of the season to give Illinois Wesleyan a 1-0 lead less than a minute and half into the action.

The Pioneers evened the score at one at the 8:33 mark of the first quarter, but Landry Elliott's (Milwaukee, Wis.-Nicolet) goal nearly one minute and a half later reclaimed a 2-1 Titan lead.

A draw control was snatched out of the air by freshman Mia Fiandaca (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North) after back-to-back goals by Carroll. Fiandaca wasted little time, taking just five seconds to find Gleason for the game-tying goal to knot the score at 3-3 with 1:15 remaining in the period. 

CU recorded the first goal of the second quarter to take a 4-3 advantage, but a huge save by junior Rebecca Rymarcsuk (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich) on a wraparound attempt by the Pioneers to maintain the one-goal difference. The save made way for a goal by senior Cassandra Jones (Elk Grove Village, Ill.-Conant) to tie the game at four.

Carroll scored three goals in the final 1:46 of the half to take a 7-4 lead into the break.

Elliott scored the Titans' lone goal of the third period, capitalizing on a free position opportunity, but the Pioneers responded 30 seconds later to reclaim a three-goal advantage.

With Carroll leading 8-5 into the final 15 minutes of regulation, another soaring win by Fiandaca on a draw got the Green and White rolling. Winning the first draw of the quarter, Fiandaca ultimately scored off a pass from Maldonado.

Two key saves by Rymarcsuk kept the Pios from finding the back of the net. The second stop by the junior keeper, was followed by a quick clear and goal for the Green and White. This time, it was Gleason that found herself on the receiving end of a Maldonado assist to trim the Carroll lead to one, 8-7.

After CU cashed in on a free position attempt to push ahead, 9-7, with about seven and a half minutes to go. 

IWU clawed its way back however, as another clutch save by Rymarcsuk led to Fiandaca's third goal of the game on another helper by Maldonado. Gleason finished off the two-goal spurt by the Green and White, scoring off her own rebound to tie the score at 9-9 with 3:33 left on the clock.

Carroll ended the IWU run with a free position goal, but Jones came right back with a free position of her own to even the game at 10 all.

Illinois Wesleyan had two chances to take the lead late, but a save and turnover saw the game head into overtime.

The Titans put together several scoring opportunities, but could not capitalize. Running down field after stopping an IWU shot, the Pioneers put the game-winner away with seconds remaining on the clock to hold off Illinois Wesleyan, 11-10, in extra time.

Gleason paced the attack with three goals, while Jones, Elliott, and Fiandaca tallied two apiece. Maldonado dished out three assists, to go along with a goal of her own, as she finished with a team-high four points. 

Fiandaca finished with eight draw controls, with Jones tallying five, as the duo tied for the team lead with three caused turnovers each. In goal, Rymarcsuk made 13 stops.

Illinois Wesleyan continues CCIW play next weekend, Saturday, April 9, with a tilt against Augustana College at Tucci Stadium. First draw is scheduled for 1 p.m.