MEQUON, Wis. – The Falcons came out on top in another Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference battle on Wednesday evening. The Blue and White improve to 5-8 on the year and 4-3 in the NACC with the 19-11 victory over Marian.
Junior Katelyn Cardinale (Mount Laurel, N.J.) secured a low goal in the second minute off an assist to senior Kami McCardle (Jackson, Wis.).
The Black and Blue scored the next three goals to take a 3-1 lead.
Sophomore Carolyn Bourgeault (Buffalo, N.Y.) closed the scoring in the first quarter after she broke to her left for a sharp-angled shot.
The second quarter was the Kami McCardle show on Wednesday when she scored all three goals for the Falcons in the second frame, including scoring the final two goals of the half to tie the game at five. Carolyn Bourgeault, senior Natalie Mackrell (Florissant, Colo.) and freshman Gretchen Paaverud (Ramsey, Minn.) had the assists on the goals.
Gretchen Paaverud crashed the net for her second goal of the year to start the third-quarter scoring in the first 12 seconds of the half on a woman-up goal off a pass from Katelyn Cardinale.
The Falcons then scored two woman-down goals 13 seconds apart with a free-position shot from sophomore Emily Robertson (Canton, Mich.) and Katelyn Cardinale.
The Sabres slashed the CUW lead to 8-6 with a woman-up goal 14 seconds after the Cardinale goal
Katelyn Cardinale pushed the lead to 9-6 27 seconds later on a free-position shot.
Emily Robertson smashed the ball into the net to elevate the lead to 10-6.
Kami McCardle pushed the lead up to 11-6 on another free-position shot.
Marian scored two woman-up goals in the final four minutes of the third quarter to cut the CUW lead to 11-8 after three quarters.
Kami McCardle started the fourth-quarter scoring on a free-position shot.
The Sabres struck a minute later, but the Falcons scored the next four goals.
Emily Robertson stole the ball back and found Kami McCardle open in front of the net for another CUW goal.
Katelyn Cardinale faked out the Marian defense on a free-position goal a minute later.
Natalie Mackrell added to the Concordia total with a goal one minute later after she charged towards the net off an assist from Carolyn Bourgeault.
Gretchen Paaverud struck again with 7:21 left in the game when Carolyn Bourgeault found her wide open in front of the cage.
Marian tallied its 10th goal of the game on a free-position shot with 5:55 left.
With 4:30 left, Natalie Mackrell stormed past the defense and Carolyn Bourgeault connected on a pass for the CUW goal.
Kami McCardle scored her 100th career point with a goal 38 seconds later off a pass from Natalie Mackrell. The seven goals are a career-best performance for McCardle.
Katelyn Cardinale scored the final CUW goal 38 seconds later.
Sophomore Parks Cawthray (Oakville, Ontario) had 11 saves against the Sabres.
Concordia claimed a 44-30 advantage in shots.
The Falcons won 20 draw controls on Wednesday. Natalie Mackrell won nine draw controls.
The Birds also picked up 28 ground balls. Carolyn Bourgeault gobbled up five ground balls.
CUW caused 19 turnovers for the Sabres, with Emily Robertson and Katelyn Cardinale both causing four.
The Falcons continue to fight for a spot in the NACC Tournament on Saturday at Edgewood.
