NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Beloit College women's lacrosse team opened their 2026 campaign on the road this afternoon, facing off against North Central College (Ill.) at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Despite a determined effort and several standout individual performances, the Buccaneers fell to the Cardinals by a final score of 17-2.

Beloit's offensive efforts were spearheaded by Julia Fussy (Mahtomedi, Minn.), who accounted for both of the team's goals. Fussy was a constant threat throughout the match, leading the Buccaneers with six shots and showing remarkable efficiency on free-position opportunities.

Beloit's first goal came during a pivotal moment in the second period. Capitalizing on a man-up advantage at the 11:43 mark, Fussy found the back of the net on a gritty unassisted play to put the Buccaneers on the board. She struck again late in the third period, weaving through the Cardinals' defense to score her second unassisted goal of the game with just 1:02 remaining in the frame.

Beyond the scoring, the Buccaneers displayed significant hustle in the transition game and on the defensive end. Fussy proved to be a true two-way player, recording a team-high four caused turnovers and scooping up three ground balls.

In the cage, goalkeeper Kim Pilon (Birch Run, Mich.) stayed busy throughout the 60-minute contest. Pilon recorded six saves against a high-volume North Central attack and led the team in ground balls with four, frequently sparking clears for the Buccaneer defense.

Other notable contributions for the Buccaneers included, Natasha Ludwig (Royalton) who in the center circle with a team-high two draw controls and added a ground ball Kiera Fairnington (Fort Frances, Ontario) anchored the defensive effort with two caused turnovers and a ground ball. Kylie Wolff (Alberta, Canada) provided defensive stability, recording two ground balls.

The Buccaneers face Elmhurst on Monday. Game time is set for 7 pm.