NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The No. 16-ranked Carleton College women's soccer team suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the North Central College Cardinals thanks to a 79th-minute goal.
Avery Trapp made 11 saves between the sticks to keep the Knights in the contest.
Carleton (0-1-0) made a trip to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight last season, and the Cardinals (2-0-0) advanced to the Round of 32 after winning their conference tournament. North Central is the first of three 2025 NCAA Championships teams on Carleton's regular-season schedule this fall.
North Central tested Trapp three times in the first half, with the senior 'keeper making simple saves in the 10th and 37th minutes and diving for a difficult stop 13 seconds before halftime. Carleton was awarded three corners, but could not challenge the Cardinal net.
The Knights out-possessed North Central in the opening 15 minutes of the second half but still could not break the seal on a tough Cardinals defense. The script flipped after the hour mark, when North Central began a barrage on Carleton's goal. The hosts put seven shots on target between the 62nd and 76th minutes , and Trapp was equal to each of them.
However, in the 79th minute, the Cardinals converted on the counter attack. Madison DeVriendt spun in a cross to veteran forward Jordan Lange, who punched a header toward goal which deflected off a Carleton defender and past the diving goalkeeper. The maize and blue mustered a couple of late opportunities but could not find the tying goal.
This loss marked Carleton's first defeat in a season opener since 2016. The Knights were 4-0-4 on matchday one from 2017 to 2025. This game was also the first time North Central had ever beaten Carleton in the third meeting between the programs.
This was Trapp's third career game with double-digit saves, and her final tally of 11 stops represented a regular-season career highas she recorded 13 against Loras in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton faces another 2025 NCAA Tournament team, hosting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday, Sep. 11 at Bell Field. The home opener is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
