River Forest, Ill. – The Cougars returned to action Wednesday evening, Sept. 15, in their Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference opener against the Benedictine University Eagles. CUC, in their fourth-straight home game, relied on their sophomore core and strong defensive plays to contain the Eagles' offense. In the end, Benedictine came out on top 1-0.
 
Both teams started the game energized and aggressive in their plans. Most of the game was played in the middle of the pitch, with few chances for any scoring opportunities. CUC defenders Meagan Wilkinson (Georgetown, Ky.), Karissa Walters (Zeeland, Mich.), and Grace Glodowski (Plainfield, Ill.) denied Benedictine of any offensive push. The Cougars posted a season-high six shots in the first half. Benedictine goalkeeper Katherine Prochnow made two saves, and ended the game with four total.
 
The Eagles came out of halftime with a burst of energy and applied more offensive pressure. A foul in the box gave the Eagles a chance the break the scoreless tie as they found the bottom left corner of the goal on the ensuing penalty kick to make it 1-0 Eagles. CUC responded with seven more shots in an attempted late game comeback. Ultimately, time ran out on the Cougars.
 
Individual Highlights

• Allie Brown (St. Louis, Mo.) and Walters played all 90 minutes of the game for the fifth time this season.
• Britani Chansler (Naples, Fla.), Medelin Loza (Cicero, Ill.), Lucia Fullone (Lake in the Hills, Ill.), and Itzel Calderon (Oak Lawn, Ill.) each put one shot on goal.
• Goalie Kassie Silenzi (Carpentersville, Ill.) made two saves, which brings her career total to 124 saves.

 
The Cougars look to turn things around at home on Saturday, Sept. 18, against Edgewood College. The game is scheduled to start at 12 p.m.