Firebirds Projected to Finish Second in CCIW Preseason Poll

NAPERVILLE - The Carthage women's lacrosse team has been selected to finish second in the 2025 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll, the conference announced on Friday.

POLL RESULTS
1. Carroll - 25 (5)
2. Carthage - 2 (1)
3. Illinois Wesleyan - 17
4. North Central - 14
5. Augustana - 8
6. Elmhurst - 6

The Firebirds are picked second after an 11-7 overall finish in 2024, with a conference record of 4-2. The two conference losses came at the hands of Carroll and UChicago, who left the CCIW following the 2024 season.

The Firebirds will see a new, yet familiar face leading the way this season as Maddie Berni will begin her first season as Head Coach of the Firebirds. Berni, a 2023 graduate of the Carthage women's lacrosse program, had an impressive career as a student-athlete. She ranks eighth all time in points with 194 (144 goals and 50 assists), while also being eighth in goals scored, eighth in assists, sixth in ground balls (153), third in woman-up goals (11), fifth in draw controls in a single game (11), and 11th in points per game (2.81). Berni was named Second Team All-CCIW in 2022.

The Firebirds will have several names return to the lineup in 2025, including sophomore standout August Claridge. Claridge was named Second-Team All-Region, as well as First Team All-CCIW and CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year in 2024. Claridge set the single season scoring record as a freshman with 83 goals on the year, as well as the single-game scoring record with 10 goals against Augustana on April 13, 2024.

Seniors Emma McDonald, Kailey Wagner, and Sydney Kuyava all return to the Firebirds in 2025 as well. Kuyava earned Second Team All-CCIW honors in 2024. The junior class will feature some familiar names including Piper LeFevre, Kyleigh Higgins, Hannah Kim, Rosie Nolan, and Shannon Heitschmidt. Heitschmidt, Higgins, and Kim all earned Second Team All-CCIW honors in 2024. Claridge highlights the sophomore class along with Second Team All-CCIW honoree Bailey Koestel. Four freshmen join the Berni Bunch this season, with Coach Berni's first recruiting class featuring Xochitl Delvale-Vera, Isabella Kuyava, Ari Solomon, and Karlie Young.

The 2025 campaign kicks off for the Firebirds on Feb. 12 as the team will host Bethel (Ind.) at Art Keller Field at 3 p.m. The contest will be followed swiftly by another home game against DePauw on Feb. 15. The Firebirds then hit the road for the first time on Feb. 23 and head to Fond du Lac, Wis. for a game against Marian. Conference play opens on April 9, as the top two seeded teams in the CCIW preseason poll will meet on Art Keller Field when the Firebirds face off against Carroll at 6 p.m.

For the latest information, schedule updates, and news visit athletics.carthage.edu.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Auggie Claridge: A; 5' 2"; Sophomore

#2 Shannon Heitschmidt: A; 5' 4"; Junior

#8 Kyleigh Higgins: M; 5' 3"; Junior

#5 Hannah Kim: D; 5' 2"; Junior

#20 Bailey Koestel: M; 5' 1"; Sophomore

#9 Sydney Kuyava: D; 5' 4"; Senior

#19 Piper LeFevre: A; 5' 9"; Junior

#15 Emma McDonald: A; 5' 2"; Senior

#4 Rosie Nolan: M; 5' 4"; Junior

#14 Kailey Wagner: D; Senior

Players Mentioned

#3 Auggie Claridge
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: A

#2 Shannon Heitschmidt
: 5' 4"; Junior
: A

#8 Kyleigh Higgins
: 5' 3"; Junior
: M

#5 Hannah Kim
: 5' 2"; Junior
: D

#20 Bailey Koestel
: 5' 1"; Sophomore
: M

#9 Sydney Kuyava
: 5' 4"; Senior
: D

#19 Piper LeFevre
: 5' 9"; Junior
: A

#15 Emma McDonald
: 5' 2"; Senior
: A

#4 Rosie Nolan
: 5' 4"; Junior
: M

#14 Kailey Wagner
: Senior
: D