JOLIET, ILL. - The Madison College women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season Wednesday at Joliet Junior College, ending an impressive 12-match run without a setback that stands as the longest unbeaten start in program history. The 2-1 decision in a matchup of teams ranked in the latest NJCAA Division III Poll, means the #4 WolfPack now sit just a half-game ahead of the #10 Wolves in the North Central Community College Conference standings with one game remaining to decided the champion.

Looking to clinch the program's first-ever N4C title, Madison College fell behind late in the first half against the highest score team in the nation, averaging 5.7 goals per match. Joliet Junior College (17-2, 9-2) took a 1-0 lead in the 44' minute, marking the first goal scored against the WolfPack in 283 minutes of game action. The Wolves made it a 2-0 advantage in the 71' when the top goal scorer in the country, Hailey Arlis, snuck a second goal past Madison College goalkeeper Brandie Gospodarek.

Trailing most of the second half, the WolfPack put constant pressure on the JJC defense, attempted 14 total shots. The only one to get through to the back of the net came off the foot of freshman Erin True, with an assist by Tierra Sackett, in the 81'. For the winger from Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, the goal is her fourth in the last three matches. The Sackett assist is her seventh on the year, giving the native of West Salem, Wisconsin, the second highest total on the team.

Madison College fired off five more shots, including three on goal, and attempted two corner kicks of the match's final eight minutes to try and net the equalizer, however, the WolfPack came up empty. The two teams were separated by one total shot for the match, with the visitors owning a 23-22 lead in the category, and a 16-13 edge in shots on goal. Freshman Peyton Trapino was credited with five shots on goal and fellow first year Britt Schumann had three, while the duo combined for a dozen shots total.

Gospodarek, who allowed goals number seven and eight on the year, also tallied eight saves, her second highest mark of the season as the team's split their regular season series for the second consecutive fall. The WolfPack still owns a 7-2 lead in the all-time series.

Up Next:

Madison College (11-1-1, 9-1-1) will put the finishing touches on the best regular season in program history with a home match Friday, October 13 against Triton College (4-10, 2-9) at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East. The WolfPack can still claim the program's first-ever N4C championship with a win, or with a loss and a Joliet loss against Rock Valley College. The 'Pack defeated the Trojans 6-1 last month for their fourth straight win in the head-to-head series, which stands at 6-1-1 in favor of Madison College. The season's final match will also double as Sophomore Day, as the team will honor an seven-member class of second year players during a ceremony just before the 4:00 p.m. kickoff.
 
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