MILWAUKEE, WIS.—A large monkey sat on the Carthage College women's soccer team's back prior to their non-conference bout at Milwaukee School of Engineering on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Reds took the 30-minute, I-94 trek north with the intention of dodging a three-game losing skid that dated back to a 1-0 victory over #24 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on September 23.
 
The women in red and white were also in pursuit of their first goal in that time span. That task wasn't going to be a walk in the park against an MSOE team that entered Saturday's contest with a seven-game unbeaten streak. The Raiders last loss occurred in a 5-1 decision at #4 University of Chicago on September 14.
 
The clear-sunny fall skies that overlooked the MSOE Soccer Complex did the Lady Reds wonders as they snapped a three-game losing skid with a 2-1 victory over the Raiders on Saturday afternoon.
 
Carthage improves to 6-5-0, 0-2-0 CCIW while Milwaukee School of Engineering falls to 9-3-1, 4-0-0 NACC.
 
Lady Reds 2, Milwaukee School of Engineering 1
 
That invisible monkey was evident for Carthage from the get-go, only because they wanted to dodge it. The Lady Reds jumped on the Raiders when Corinne Brennan tallied a shot nine seconds into the game. A string of two Lady Red corner kicks swung momentum in their direction 2:27 into the game.
 
Carthage's strong play to open the game paid dividends when Corinne Brennan tallied a shot past Raider goalkeeper Mary McFee 2:52 into the game to make the score 1-0. Brennan's unassisted tally was her second of the season.
 
The Lady Reds took advantage of the corner kick once again in the 23^rd minute. Jacey Kent's corner at the 22:12 mark of the game found the head of Kayla McGuinness, which sailed to the back of the net to make the score 2-0. Kent assisted on McGuinness's second tally of the season.
 
Milwaukee School of Engineering's Mary Schultz crossed a pass over to Sara Travia 12 yards in front of the net in the 86^th minute. Travia finished the job with a shot that found the back of the net to cut the Lady Red lead in half at 2-1 at the 85:26 mark.
 
The Raider's comeback bid was too late as Carthage held them off for a 2-1 win.
 
Brennan finished the contest with six shots. Emily Furmanek tallied seven saves in a complete-game victory in goal for the Lady Reds.
 
Carthage will return to Art Keller Field on Wednesday, October 12 against North Park University. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.