KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College women's soccer team dropped a heartbreaker in the final minutes of their 2015 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener Saturday, October 3rd at Art Keller Field falling to North Central College, 2-1, on a cold, wet and rainy homecoming afternoon.
 
Carthage and North Central exchanged penalty kicks in the first half following hand balls in the box.  First it was NCC's Caitlyn Orawiec who placed the ball to the lower left corner which goalkeeper Abby Alm was able to get a hand on but the ball squeaked by for the 1-0 lead in the 31st minute.
 
Four minutes later Maggie Washelesky got her fifth goal of the season on a penalty kick which she buried without any contest from the Cardinal's goalkeeper.
 
Carthage had a chance to take the lead early as a shot in the 20th minute from Rachel Post beat the NCC goalkeeper but was denied by the crossbar.  That was only the first of two heartbreaking misses, when in the 70th minute it looked as if the Lady Reds would take the late lead when Post hit the crossbar for the second time.
 
With time running out in regulation, a long ball down the middle of the field found Emily Gaither, who beat the charging Alm off her line, to one touch it over Alm and into the empty net for the game winner.
 
Carthage controlled much of the pace of the game forcing 9 saves from the NCC goalkeeper as the Lady Reds outworked and outshot the Cardinals 16-10 and 10-4 on target.  Additionally, Carthage worked-up a 7-4 advantage on corners in the match.
 
Carthage returns to action Tuesday, October 6th when the Lady Reds host non-conference foe the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Art Keller Field at 4:30 PM.