No. 4 Tartans Defeat No. 12 Chicago to Start Conference Play

(CHICAGO, Ill.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's soccer team opened up conference play in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with a 2-1 win over The University of Chicago on Saturday afternoon. The fourth-ranked Tartans improve to 9-0 and 1-0 in the UAA while the 12th-ranked Maroons fall to 9-2, 0-1.

The Tartans took an early lead over the Maroons scoring in the 11th minute of play.  Sophomore Megan Bartoshuk (Redwood City, Calif./Sequoia) took a shot from six yards out that hit the back of the net off of a pass from senior Savina Reid (Briarcliff, N.Y./Briarcliff Manor) to record her second goal of the year.

To further the lead, in the 22nd minute of play, senior Lauren Simicich (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) sent in a perfect corner kick, giving freshman Keely Jelinek (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage) the perfect opportunity to score her first goal of the season to give the Tartans a 2-0 lead which would stand up to the end of the first half.

Although, the Tartans put three more shots on goal in the second half, they were unable to connect with another score.

The Maroons made it exciting, cutting into the lead in the 83rd minute with a goal by Naomi Pacalin after Tartan sophomore keeper Katie Liston (Lakewood, Ohio/Montessori HS at University Circle) punched the ball out off a corner kick. Mia Calamari passed the loose ball to Pacalin who struck the shot to the left corner past Liston for her third goal of the season.

"This was a great win for our program today," head coach Yon Struble said. "Chicago is one of the best teams we've played this year. It is never easy traveling to Chicago and getting a win here. I was proud of the way we handled the pressure they threw at us."

The women's soccer team will continue UAA play at home on Saturday, October 11 at 1:30 p.m. against the No. 1 ranked team University of Washington St. Louis.