By: After taking a lead with just over five minutes gone, the Lady Blues leaked three goals and were beaten by Carroll, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon.
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's soccer team had its unbeaten run to the start of the 2016 season come to an end on Sunday afternoon as the Lady Blues were defeated by Carroll University, 3-2. The Pioneers improve their record to 4-2-0 on the season while IC drops to 4-1-0.
The first chance of the match came with four minutes elapsed as
Charlotte Crofton saved a shot by Sabrina Georgeff to keep the match scoreless. Less than a minute later,
Kaylen Sims lined up a corner kick for the Lady Blues and it deflected off of
Mackenzie Bedgood before falling to
Ashley Sholmire to put it away for a quick 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately, that lead would last less than a minute. Off of a corner kick of their own, the Pioneers trickled a ball over the line off the foot of Tia Irish. Delaney Pruitt was given the assist from the corner.
The match settled in from there with few clear-cut chances for either team until Carroll broke through with the go-ahead goal in the 28th minute. Georgeff was the scorer this time, putting the ball past Crofton from the top of the 18-yard box after a free kick from Gina LaMacchia.
Illinois College had a golden opportunity to score in the 38th minute, but were robbed by the crossbar.
Ally Kjellander lined up a corner kick and Sims ended up with the ball in the box. She fired twice, but each shot was blocked. The second shot ricocheted up in the air where
Rebecca Morris headed it towards goal, only for the crossbar to keep the Pioneers in the lead at the halftime whistle.
In the second half, Carroll controlled possession and kept the Lady Blues pinned back defensively. Ten minutes into the half, the Pioneers extended their lead to two goals. Jessica Coia and Cassidy Conner worked the ball together nicely into the 18-yard box and Conner found Pruitt open on a back pass to slot home from near the penalty spot for a 3-1 lead.
In goal for the second half,
Samantha Vacek almost-singlehandedly kept IC alive. Carroll launched 13 shots in the second half, but Vacek made six saves to keep the Lady Blues within earshot. Late in the match, Sholmire had a small opening from the right wing and crossed into the box.
LeMarah Stratton was making a well-timed run and one-touched it past keeper Christina O'Block for an 84th minute goal that made it 3-2. That would turn out to be the last shot of the match for the Lady Blues however, and the Pioneers would hang on for the win.
Illinois College begins a seven-match road swing on Sept. 21 with a trip to Webster University. The Lady Blues and Gorloks will get underway at 5 p.m.
