NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Kaitlyn Cannon scored in the 58th minute Wednesday to lift North Central to a 1-0 win over Augustana at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The setback knocked the Vikings from the ranks of the unbeaten at 6-1-2 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW, while the Cardinals improved to 6-4-1 on the year and 2-0 in the league.
 
Coach Scott Mejia's side compiled a 7-5 advantage in shots during a scoreless first half. Augustana put six of those seven on frame, but North Central keeper Madison Lockard stopped all of them. The Cardinals failed to put a shot on goal, although Kily Egan's header off a corner in the 41st minute had to be cleared out of the mouth of the goal by Anna Fank (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.).
 
Lockard recorded her eighth save on a shot by Cameron Kekelik (Munster HS, Munster, Ind.) in the 52nd minute. In the 56th, the Vikings had a pair of shots blocked.
 
In minute 58, Cannon broke North Central's goose egg with her second goal of the season. Egan was credited with the assist on the play. Despite having been outshot 11-7 to that point, including 8-1 in shots on goal, the Cardinals led 1-0.
 
Augustana would get off just two more shots the rest of the way. Lockard snared a Kekelik header in minute 73 and turned away an attempt by Lauren Muzzalupo (St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, Ill.) in the 76th minute.
 
The Vikings ended up with a 13-9 edge in shots, putting nine on frame to two for North Central. The visitors took five corners to three for the Cardinals and the hosts were called for 10 fouls to eight for Augustana.
 
Viking junior Sydney Ion (Aquinas HS, La Crosse, Wis.) recorded one save, while Lockard finished with nine.
 
Mejia's squad is back at Thorson-Lucken Field on Saturday, October 5, hosting Carroll in a 5:00 p.m. match.