By Jami Sponaugle

Chicago, Ill. - In a heartbreaking loss, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks women's soccer team fell to the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons 1-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Championship match. 

How it Happened

• The lone goal of the contest came in the 16th minute. A foul committed on the Hawks defensive side awarded the Falcons a free kick. The kick was sent to the top of the 6-yard box, but unfortunately for the Hawks, a mis-communication led to an own goal, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead and the ultimate victory. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Kayla Smith led the Hawks with 6 shots, 5 on goal. 

• Clàudia Martí Fanlo trailed with 4 shots, 1 on goal. 

Inside the Box Score

• The Scarlet Hawks outshot the Falcons 20-6 with a 10-2 shot on goal advantage. 

• CUW's Brooke Braga recorded 10 saves while Illinois Tech's Hailey Flannagan made 2.

• The Falcons held a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks. 

• A total of 13 fouls were committed throughout the match between the two sides. 

2022 Recap

With the loss, the Hawks conclude the 2022 season with a 18-3-2 overall record and a 9-1-2 conference record

Martí Fanlo led the Hawks during the 2022 season in goals, recording 16 in her 21 appearances. 46 of Martí Fanlo's 80 shots were on frame for a .575 shot on goal percentage. Martí Fanlo recorded one game winning goal. Kelly Hitchcock followed with 12 goals. Hitchcock placed 23 of her 45 shots on goal for a .511 shot on goal percentage and scored three game winning goals. Kenzie Tokuchi notched 8 goals for the Hawks. Nicole Fajardo, Jamie Griggs, and Smith all scored 7 goals throughout the season. Fajardo and Griggs both had one game winning goal while Smith had two. Rachel Brettin, Amelia Moseman, Laura Rios, and Lucy Vanveldhuisen all scored five goals. Moseman finished with 3 game winning goals and Vanveldhuisen added on one. Gabriella Baltes scored four goals. Jayla Anaya, Allison Murray, and Lisa Rios all had three goals. Anaya and Murray both had two game winning goals. Ayden Greene and Ally Sanchez both finished with two goals apiece. Finishing up the Hawks goals for the 2022 season, all scoring one goal, were: Carolyn Beltran, Akina Castellano, Caitie Chismarich, Lucy Jorjorian, Jillian Oligschlaeger, and Alexis Williamson. Beltran's lone goal was a game-winning goal. 

Martí Fanlo led the team in assists as well, recording 8 throughout the season. Smith followed with 7. Griggs, Moseman, and Tokuchi all had 5 assists. Anaya, Chismarich, Fajardo, Hitchcock, and Jorjorian all finished with 3 assists. Baltes, Brettin, Greene, Katelyn Holcomb, Murray, and Vanveldhuisen all ended with 2 assists apiece. Beltran, Kate Domian, Mary Frampton, Genna Gaitan, and Hali Parker all recorded one assist during the 2022 season. 

Four Hawks shared time in goal. Flannagan started in 14 of her 15 appearances. In goal, Flannagan saved 28 shots and recorded 9 wins and 2 shutouts. Cheryl Gardner started in 2 of her 9 appearances. Gardner made 2 saves and picked up 2 victories. Sophia Rodriguez appeared in 5 games, making one save. Lastly, Sarah Thomas started in 5 of her 10 appearances. Thomas recorded 8 saves and 6 victories. 

Congratulations to the Hawks 7 seniors for their careers as Scarlet Hawks and their contributions to Illinois Tech both on and off the field: Griggs, Williamson, Holcomb, Gardner, Savanna Gonzalez, Fajardo, and Martí Fanlo. 

The Scarlet Hawks women's soccer team will return back to action in 2023.