Women's Soccer deals Edgewood first NACC loss

MEQUON, Wis. – Edgewood College came into Fitting Field with a perfect 8-0-0 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference record and hadn't lost a match since September 6. Concordia University Wisconsin changed all that Tuesday with a 2-1 Senior Day victory over the Eagles, improving the Falcons to 7-2-0 in conference play.

The Falcons built a 2-0 lead late in the second half as sophomore Emily Ciesielczyk (Waukesha, Wis.) score unassisted at the 82:49 mark. Her goal went down as the game-winner because Edgewood cut the lead to 2-1 at the 86:05 mark on Jennifer Dailey's 10th goal of the season. The Falcons defense stayed strong over the final 3:55 of play, holding on and handing Edgewood its first NACC loss.

The first half of the contest was scoreless as freshman Ariana Worthing (Saginaw, Mich.) and her counterpart, Tori Fortney, were solid in net over the opening 45 minutes. The Falcons dominated the shots in the opening stanza, 13-3, as Fortney made seven saves for the Eagles.

It didn't take long for CUW to get on the board after the break as junior Anna Hirssig (Rochester, Minn.) scored on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. Her 12th goal of the season came just 52 seconds into the second half.

The 1-0 lead would remain until the game-winner from Ciesielczyk at the 82:49 mark. She received the ball about 30 yards out and weaved through the defense, beating the goalkeeper on the right side. It appeared the Falcons would roll to the victory at that point but Edgewood made things interesting with Dailey's goal at the 86:05 mark.

The Falcons finished with 21 shots compared to nine for Edgewood. Freshman Alyssa Schmitt (Cedar Grove, Wis.) played the second half in net and earned her second consecutive victory. She made one save, while Fortney finished with 10, playing the full 90 minutes for Edgewood. Ciesielcyzk and sophomore Brittany Klumpp (Rubicon, Wis.) led the Falcons with five shots, while Dailey also fired five for the Eagles.

Senior Day was celebrated before the match as pair of Falcons were honored. Michele Karsten (Waukesha, Wis.) and Jenna Schroeder (Kenosha, Wis.) had their careers celebrated before the match. The win nearly guarantees that both will get at least one more match at Fitting Field in the NACC Tournament.

CUW (9-7-0, 7-2-0 NACC) will return to action Saturday when they visit Concordia University Chicago. The match between the Cougars and Falcons is set for a 3:30 p.m. start and is a part of a men's-women's doubleheader at the CUC Soccer Fields.