by Eric Willuweit

Chicago, Ill. - The Illinois Tech women's lacrosse team wrapped up their 2023 season Saturday at Stuart Field with a 15-6 conference loss to Concordia Wisconsin. With the loss, the Scarlet Hawks finished 0-6 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play, and 2-12 overall. The Falcons improved to 5-1 in NACC play and 8-7 overall.

The Scarlet Hawks actually started out strong in the match, with Kelly Hitchcock scoring the game's first two goals in the opening two minutes. The Falcons would score the next five goals in the opening quarter en route to a 7-3 first quarter lead. Free position shots were an advantage for the Falcons in the match, as they converted on three of four opportunities. The Falcon s also outshot the Scarlet Hawks 34-17.

Despite the overall record, the Scarlet Hawks did have some strong individual performances on the season.

Hitchcock, the junior women's soccer player playing in her first collegiate season of women's lacrosse, finished third in the conference with 55 goals on the season, averaging 3.93 goals per game. She finished 4th in conference in points per game with 4.79. She ranked tops in conference in shots per game (9.43), caused turnovers per game (2.79) and draw controls per game (9.14). Hitchcock was also 4th in the conference in ground balls per game with 4.07.

Senior Faith Busche ranked 2nd on the team and 10th in conference with 32 goals on the season, while leading the team with 23 assists, ranking 3rd in the conference for assists per game at 1.64. Busche finished 7th in points per game with 3.93, 3rd in shots per game with 7.43, 9th in caused turnovers per game with 1.57, and 13th in ground balls per game with 2.71. Busche was also 16th in draw controls per game with 2.43.

First-year midfielder Judai Smith finished 19th in scoring with 20 goals and 1.43 goals per game, 19th in shots per game with 3.71, and 19th in draw controls per game with 1.36.