KENOSHA, WIS.—The Carthage College women's soccer team returned to Art Keller Field for the first time in 18 days on Wednesday evening when they faced Elmhurst College for a CCIW contest. With playoff positioning on the line from this point forward, the Lady Reds held advantages over Elmhurst in every key statistical category that included shots (14-6), corner kicks (8-5) and shots on goal (8-3). Those didn't do Carthage justice as Kennedy Irmen's goal with 2.1 seconds remaining in the contest propelled Elmhurst to a 2-1 victory.
 
Nicole Nitti, who scored the Lady Reds' lone goal in the contest, tallied her first collegiate points. Danielle Noverini, Erin Otto, Jacey Kent, Maggie Washelesky and Joanne Stanfa each contributed a pair of shots for Carthage.
 
The Lady Reds fall to 9-6, 2-3 CCIW while Elmhurst improves to 9-4, 3-3 CCIW.
 
Elmhurst 2, Lady Reds 1
 
It was Elmhurst striking first despite Carthage registering a 6-1 shots advantage over the first 32:00 of play. Brittany Reinhart did the honors with her third goal of the season in the 35^th minute to give Elmhurst a 1-0 lead.
 
The Lady Reds responded in the 41^st minute off an ensuing Bluejays foul. Kent sparked the play with a kick from 30 yards out to the right of Elmhurst goalkeeper Sophia Tuligowski. The ball sailed to 10 yards in front of the net, where Kelly Evancich booted the ball 20 feet in the air. Nitti controlled the ball and blooped it over Tuligowski to the back of the net to tie things 1-1.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the second half before Elmhurst capitalized on their final corner kick opportunity with 0:09 remaining in the contest. Kim Stanczak's corner set up Irmen's goal in a scrum of players with 2.1 on the clock to give Elmhurst a 2-1 victory.
 
Lady Reds goalkeeper Emily Furmanek tallied one save in the complete-game loss while Tuligowski turned away seven shots for Elmhurst.
 
Carthage will return to action on Saturday, October 21 at Illinois Wesleyan University. Game time is at 4:00 p.m.