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Sophie Shore and Anelise DiGiovanni celebrate a goal against Cornell March 4, 2026
Audrey Peterson
10
Cornell College CC 0-3, 0-0
11
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 3-2, 0-0
Cornell College CC
0-3, 0-0
10
Final
11
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
3-2, 0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Cornell College CC 2 3 2 3 10
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1 4 2 4 11

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse |

Titans Complete Comeback to Defeat Cornell

Titans use two goals in final minute to secure win

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Scoring twice in the last minute of regulation, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team took down Cornell College, 11-10, Wednesday night, March 4 at Tucci Stadium. With the win, the Titans improve to 3-2 on the season, while CC slips to 0-3.

Facing a one-goal deficit heading into the final minute of action, senior Sadie Newton (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) drove through the Rams defense to net the equalizer goal, as the woman-up opportunity tied the contest at 10 with 59 seconds to play. The senior came through big, as she won the ensuing draw to quickly set up the Green and White offense. Newton sent a pass to sophomore Sophie Shore (St. Peters, Mo.-Francis Howell Central), who found sophomore Lillie Keeton (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington). Keeton fired off a shot, which bounced over the Rams goalkeeper and in, putting the Titans ahead, 11-10, with 37 seconds remaining. IWU held on to close out the game, completing the comeback win.

Senior Anelise DiGiovanni (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township) and Newton led the Illinois Wesleyan offense with five points apiece, as both scored three goals to go along with two assists. Shore added four points by way of three goals and an assist.

At the draw, Shore notched a team-high eight draw controls, followed by five from Newton. Newton led the team with five ground balls, while freshman Allison Vervynck (Overland Park, Kan.-Saint Thomas Aquinas) scooped up three. Newton also recorded a team-leading five caused turnovers. Shore's four were second on the squad. 

Making six saves in goal, logging the last 30 minutes between the iron, Vervynck picked up her first career win. 

Sophomore Marli Brown (Kansas City, Mo.-Notre Dame de Sion) came through with two saves to open the contest before the Titans could get their first offensive possession of the night. The saves proved crucial, as the game saw no scoring until Newton drove through the Rams defense to crack the scoreboard first at the 8:31 mark.

The low-scoring opening quarter saw the Rams take a 2-1 lead via a last-second goal to end the first 15 minutes of action. 

Looking for a chance to even the contest, Keeton wrapped around the crease and buried her shot. The goal tied the score at 2-2 with 14:28 left to play in the first half. Shore forced a Rams turnover to set up the Green and White offense shortly after, and the Titans capitalized on the opportunity. Newton caught a pass from DiGiovanni for a goal, giving the home team a 3-2 lead at the 12:38 mark. 

DiGiovanni stayed hot, as she maneuvered her way through traffic and found the top corner for a goal to widen the gap to two, 4-2, with just under 10 minutes left to play in the second period. The senior scored another unanswered goal, this time coming off a free-position attempt. The score gave IWU a three-goal lead with 8:27 to play in the first half. 

Cornell closed out the quarter with three straight goals, as the teams stood tied at 5-5 entering halftime. 

Sophomore Cassie Fischmann (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) caused a turnover, which led to a free-position attempt for Shore. The St. Peters, Mo. native buried her attempt, putting the home team back out in front, 6-5, at the 12:40 mark. DiGiovanni found Newton for another goal to make it a two-score lead, 7-5, and Vervynck came through with a key save on a bouncing ball shortly after. 

Once again, the Rams fought back to tie the game at 7-7 entering the final 15 minutes of play. The visitors scored first in the fourth quarter, using a one-v-one opportunity to take an 8-7 lead. 

The two teams traded scores the rest of the way, as CC went up one, 10-9, with 1:28 to play. The Titans responded quickly after, beginning with a Cornell yellow card. Using a woman-up opportunity, Newton found the neutralizer, and Keeton secured the win, as the two straight scores boosted Illinois Wesleyan in front, 11-10.

The Green and White returns to the road, heading to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Saturday, March 7. Action is set for 12 p.m.
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