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Lizzie Rymarcsuk in goal against Carthage April 19, 2025
© AshtinElder
10
Winner Carthage CARTHAGE 10-3, 2-1 CCIW
8
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 7-8, 2-2 CCIW
Winner
Carthage CARTHAGE
10-3, 2-1 CCIW
10
Final
8
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
7-8, 2-2 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Carthage CARTHAGE 5 4 0 1 10
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1 2 4 1 8

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse |

Women’s Lacrosse Comes Up Short in Comeback against Carthage

Titans look ahead to Senior Day against Elmhurst Saturday, April 26

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Trailing 9-3 entering halftime, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team came up short in a second-half comeback against Carthage College Saturday afternoon, April 19, as the Titans fell 10-8. The loss drops IWU to 7-8 on the season, and 2-2 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play, while Carthage upped its record to 10-3, and 2-1 in league action.

Coming out of halftime facing a six-goal deficit, the Titans went to work quickly in the third quarter. Senior Mia Fiandaca (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North) caused a turnover to set up the first offensive possession of the second half, and IWU made good use of the Firebirds miscue. Junior Sadie Newton (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) found senior Avery Setzler (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) near the goal, and the senior buried her shot to make it 9-4 with 14:09 on the clock.

Fiandaca won the ensuing draw, and the Titan offense utilized the scoring opportunity. Junior Anelise DiGiovanni (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township) sent a pass over the goal to a cutting Fiandaca, who scored her third goal of the game to make it 9-5. 

Junior Carleigh Fountain (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) weaved through traffic and buried a point-blank shot to bring the score within three, 9-6. 

Senior Lizzie Rymarcsuk (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Saint Viator) came up big with back-to-back saves to keep it within reach halfway through the third quarter. Following the second save, Rymarcsuk picked off a pass to get the Green and White back on offense. Junior Sarah Riepe (Aurora, Ill.-St. Francis) found Setzler just outside the crease, and the senior banged one in off the crossbar to make it a two-score game with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter. 

Another clutch Rymarcsuk save kept the third quarter in the Titans' control. Forcing nine CC miscues, IWU commanded the third period to go into the final 15 minutes trailing two, 9-7, after scoring all four goals in the quarter. 

Staying hot on offense, the Titans struck first in the fourth quarter. Freshman Maddie Gibson (Fenton, Mo.-Rockwood Summit) found a cutting Newton, who laced one into the top corner of the net to bring it within one, 9-8, with 9:12 to go in the game. 

Newton knocked the ball out of the hands of the Firebirds, but IWU could not make the most of the opportunity on offense. After Carthage had a successful clear, the Firebirds called a timeout. Out of the break, senior Mallory Mills (Schaumburg, Ill.-James B. Conant) knocked the ball out of Carthage's stick, but the Green and White quickly turned it over. The next possession saw a CC attacker spin around an IWU defender, but Rymarcsuk stayed locked in to thwart the low shot. Carthage's leading scorer, Piper LeFevre, scooped up the ground ball, and shot one point-blank, but once again Rymarcsuk made the save, setting up the Illinois Wesleyan offense. 

Fiandaca forced a turnover in the Titans' offensive zone, but the Firebirds' goalie made a save to keep the visitors ahead by one. 

Mills came up with a timely caused turnover, once again knocking the ball loose, but IWU coughed it up on offense. Looking like Carthage was in control after the error, Riepe picked off the goalkeeper's pass to keep the Green and White in scoring distance. With 2:04 remaining, head coach Abby Kushina called a timeout to calm the Titans down and draw an equalizing play.

Fountain drew a free-position out of the break, but it ricocheted off the post. IWU got the ground ball, and the junior drew another, but Carthage came up with another key save. 

Aggressively trying to get the ball back, Carthage slipped through the Titan defense and net a goal with 27 seconds left to play to stymie the IWU comeback, taking the game 10-8. 

Illinois Wesleyan was led in scoring by Fiandaca, who finished with three goals for a trio of points. Gibson, Newton, and Setzler each added a pair, with Setzler's both coming on goals, while Newton and Gibson each tallied one goal and an assist. 

Riepe led the team in ground balls and caused turnovers, finishing with six and five, respectively. Her six ground balls matched her career-best. Rymarcsuk and freshman Sophie Shore (St. Peters, Mo.-Francis Howell Central) added five ground balls apiece, with the freshman setting a new career-high. With four caused turnovers apiece, Fiandaca and Newton followed Riepe to help lead the defensive efforts. At the draw, IWU was led by five draw controls from Fiandaca.

Logging all 60 minutes between the iron, Rymarcsuk made 12 saves on a .545 save percentage, but was dealt the loss. 

As a team, IWU held statistical advantages in most categories, finishing with the edge in shots (31-23), shots on goal (23-22), ground balls (32-25), and went 17-for-22 on clears with 24 turnovers, while forcing Carthage to a 15-for-26 showing with 29 errors. CC finished with the lead in draw controls, 14-8, and saves, 15-12. 

Illinois Wesleyan will conclude its regular season against Elmhurst University Saturday, April 29. With a 3 p.m. start, the game will serve as the second leg of a doubleheader with the men's lacrosse team, with both being Senior Day celebrations. IWU will honor seniors Mia Fiandaca, Avery Setzler, Lizzie Rymarcsuk, and Mallory Mills prior to the start.
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