AURORA, ILL.—Rain doesn't keep student-athletes sane when it comes to waiting minutes and hours for a chance to compete. Delays enter the picture when lightning is added to the equation, which proved the be the case for the Carthage College women's soccer team's game at Aurora University on Wednesday afternoon. For the Lady Reds, it's the second-consecutive game that mother nature's will power struck the playing surface.
 
Only difference was the 90-minute waiting game occurred prior to Wednesday's bout with the Spartans. Carthage's weather-stricken game with Concordia (Wis.) on September 16 occurred during competition, but that didn't prevent them from registering a 2-1 victory.
 
Deja vu was the dialogue in the Lady Red's vision prior to Wednesday with the hope of weather generating a positive result again. Carthage followed through with their vision when Maggie Washelesky registered a goal in the 68^th minute to propel them to a 1-0 victory over the Spartans. The Lady Reds sit at 4-2-0, 0-0-0 CCIW while Aurora University sports a record of 1-5-1, 0-1-0 NACC.
 
Carthage 1, Aurora 0
 
The Spartans and Lady Reds utilized the opening 45 minutes to shake the cob webs from the delay. Shots from Aubrey Quick, Corinne Brennan and Erin Ganzke propelled Carthage to a 3-1 advantage over Aurora in that category.
 
With sunshine comes scoring opportunities, which proved accurate in the second half. A corner kick, followed by a pair of Spartan shots in the opening stages of the second half was the spark plug Carthage needed as they controlled the tempo from that point forward.
 
The Lady Reds responded with seven shots before they found the back of the net. That seventh shot occurred when Darcy Stoecklin hit the post in the 68^th minute. Moments later, the ball bounced in Washlesky's direction, where she registered a header past Spartan goalkeeper Caitlin DeRuiter to give Carthage a 1-0 lead.
 
The Lady Red's transcendent second half paved a road for their 14-6 advantage in shots, 5-4 upper hand in shots on goal and 5-2 lead in corner kicks.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Emily Furmanek tallied her sixth-consecutive start in net for the Lady Reds. She notched four saves in her third shutout of the season.

"We controlled the game well and executed our game plan on set pieces to capitalize for the win," said Carthage head women's soccer coach Sara Meyer. "Our team chemistry on the field is continuing to grow."
 
Carthage will return to competition at Art Keller Field on Friday, September 23 against Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.