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Vanessa Gray save against NCC 10-22-25
Ayodeji Okewole ayo_digital
2
Winner North Central (IL) NCC (11-5-0, 6-0-0)
1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU (7-7-2, 2-3-1)
Winner
North Central (IL) NCC
(11-5-0, 6-0-0)
2
Final
1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
(7-7-2, 2-3-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
North Central (IL) NCC 2 0 2
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 0 1 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Women’s Soccer Narrowly Falls to Cardinals

Gray records eight saves against conference leaders

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's soccer team dropped a competitive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin match, 2-1, to league leader North Central College Wednesday, Oct. 22 under the lights of Neis Field. The Titans fall to 7-7-2 on the season and 2-3-1 in conference play, while NCC keeps its perfect CCIW record intact at 6-0-0 and climbs to 11-5-0 on the season. 

North Central held advantages in shots (21-15) and narrowly 10-8 in shots on target. Sophomore goalkeeper Vanessa Gray (Burlington, Ontario, Canada-Dr. Frank J. Hayden) had an impressive 90 minutes between the posts, recording eight saves, one shy of Gray's career-high. The Cardinals took nine corner kicks to the Titans four, six of which came in the first period. 

Back-to-back corner kicks in the first few minutes gave the Cardinals great looks getting on the board first. The Titans thwarted the first opportunity, but a header from Kassandra Salviola found the back of the net and gave NCC an early 1-nil advantage.

Illinois Wesleyan nearly knocked in the equalizer in the 16th minute as the Green and White took a throw-in towards goal, but sophomore Liza Wiley's (Bloomington, Ind.-Home School) shot was stopped. Sophomores Taylor Haun (Metamora, Ill.-Metamora Township) and Ellen Dahlquist (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) ripped off shots moments later, but were also met by the hands of NCC's Lily Mattison to keep the 1-nil score intact into the 22nd minute.

North Central's Victoria Jaimes put the Cardinals ahead 2-nil in the 33rd minute, as she capitalized on a pass from midfield and booted it in from the six. 

IWU came out on fire in the second period, manufacturing several scoring looks. Haun flew down the sideline in the 53rd minute, quickly dishing it out to Wiley near the middle of the field. Wiley soared a pass from 18 yards out into the goal box and found the head of junior Ava Mapes (Golden, Colo.-Lakewood), who scored her fifth goal of the season. 

With Titans within striking distance, 2-1, Gray made a sensational save with 17 minutes remaining to keep NCC from extending its lead. The Green and White kept pressing for the tying strike, with its best opportunity coming in the final two minutes. Illinois Wesleyan garnered a free kick, but could not convert, sealing a 2-1 defeat.

The Titans turn their attention to the road, as the Green and White travel to Waukesha, Wis. for a date with CCIW opponent Carroll University Saturday, Oct. 25. Saturday's match with the Pioneers is set for a 5 p.m. start at Schneider Stadium and will serve as the first leg of a twinbill with the men's soccer team. 
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