Freeland's late goal helps Women's Soccer score 2-2 draw

LISLE, Ill. – Abigail Freeland scored late in regulation to help the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Soccer team score a 2-2 draw at Benedictine Wednesday night in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play. Nicole Ciesielczyk also scored for the Falcons in the second half, one that saw three goals between the two teams.

THE BASICS
- Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 2, Benedictine 2
- Location: The Sports Complex – Lisle, Illinois
- Records: Concordia Wisconsin 1-8-1, 1-2-1 NACC; Benedictine 4-5-3, 2-1-2 NACC

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Freeland (Grafton, Wis.) netted the tying score late in the 86th minute on a free kick. It was the second goal of the season for the Falcons senior defender.

- CUW was down 1-0 at the half but tied the match in the 55th minute on the first goal of the season for Ciesielczyk (Waukesha, Wis.). Her score was set up by a cross from freshman Shannon Carroll (Mundelein, Ill.). The assist marked the first career collegiate point for Carroll.

- Taylor Pokorny of Benedictine broke the 1-1 tie in the 70th minute on her team-leading eighth goal of the season. The Eagles also had the lone score in the first half, coming off the foot of Kayleigh Sommer, her third of 2016.

- The match was even throughout with Benedictine holding a slight 15-13 edge in shots, including a 5-2 advantage in the overtime sessions. Junior Tabitha Ortiz (Plainfield, Ill.) picked up the decision for the Falcons, recording 30:10 of scoreless play in relief at goalkeeper. Ortiz made four saves over that stretch, including one in each of the 10-minute overtime periods.

- Corner kicks were difficult to come by for both teams, each having two in the match. The Falcons had one corner opportunity in each half in regulation.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The draw for CUW was the first in conference regular season play since the 2013 season. CUW played Concordia Chicago to a scoreless tie on October 26, 2013.

- The Falcons and Benedictine have now gone to overtime in two straight matches. Last season, Kayla Schlosser (Germantown, Wis.) scored 1:25 into the extra session to give CUW a 2-1 win en route to a 10-0-0 NACC regular season.

UP NEXT
- The Falcons will host Edgewood in another NACC battle on Saturday. The match is set for a 1 p.m. start at Fitting Field and will be the opening part of a women's/men's doubleheader.