Lizzie Rymarcsuk in goal for IWU against Wooster March 29, 2025

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Women’s Lacrosse Welcomes Carthage for CCIW Contest

Titans look to secure key conference win Saturday afternoon

4/18/2025 12:15:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - After downing North Central College, 22-13, Wednesday, April 16, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team hosts Carthage College for a crucial College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin contest Saturday afternoon, April 19, with a 1 p.m. start time. The game will serve as IWU's Morgan's Message game, a non-profit organization that is centered around promoting mental health advocacy.

Morgan's Message® is a 501(c)(3) in honor of Morgan Rogers, a former Duke University Lacrosse student-athlete who died tragically in July 2019 after battling mental health challenges, that strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. The organization aims to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.

The Titans enter Saturday with an overall record of 7-7, and are 2-1 in CCIW play. IWU defeated North Central 22-13 in its most recent contest, powered by a career day from junior Sarah Riepe (Aurora, Ill.-St. Francis), as she net her first hat trick. Senior Lizzie Rymarcsuk (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Saint Viator) posted a career-best nine ground balls, and totaled 11 saves to pick up the win in goal. Junior Sadie Newton (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) tallied a team-best three caused turnovers, while senior Mia Fiandaca (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North) notched a game-high nine draw controls to go along with a team-leading five points.

Senior Avery Setzler (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) leads the team with 31 points. Her 20 goals rank third on the squad, while her 11 assists are tied for second. Newton and Fiandaca closely follows with 30 points. Newton's total is composed of 22 goals, the second-most on the team, and eight assists, followed by freshman Maddie Gibson (Fenton, Mo.-Rockwood Summit) with 29 points. Fiandaca holds a team-best 28 goals to go along with an assist, while Gibson's points have come from 19 goals and 10 helpers. DiGiovanni leads the Titans with 13 assists, while junior Carleigh Fountain (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) is tied for second with Setzler with 11.

With 39 ground balls apiece, Setzler, Fiandaca, and Rymarcsuk sit atop the team in a three-way tie. Newton's 51 draw controls are a team-leading mark, followed by 41 from Fiandaca, and Setzler's 28.

As a team, IWU ranks 20th in Division III in caused turnovers per game, as the Titans hold an average of 13.43. Fiandaca leads the way with 45 caused turnovers, and is five shy of tying the program's single-season record, set last year by Devon Hanson with 50. Newton is second with 24, and freshman Carly Bajusz (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville North) rounds out the top three with 15.

In goal for the Green and White, Rymarcsuk leads the team with 133 saves, which ranks 27th nationally. The senior enters Saturday with a .473 save percentage and a 7-7 record in 732:15 minutes of work.

Illinois Wesleyan will face Carthage (9-3, 1-1 CCIW) for the 12th time, and looks to snap its four-game losing skid against the Firebirds. In the last meeting, May 1, 2024, Carthage defeated the Titans in the CCIW Tournament Semifinal, 16-11. Fiandaca led the team with six goals, and tied for the team-high in points alongside Britney Maldonado. Maldonado posted a team-best five assists to go along with a goal in her final game donning the Green and White. Fiandaca also led the squad with four caused turnovers. Rymarcsuk made 10 saves in 60 minutes between the posts.

A live stream of the contest can be found here, while live stats can be accessed by clicking here.

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