CROWN POINT, Ind. – The IU Northwest women's soccer team welcomed CCAC rival Trinity Christian College to the Sparta Dome for a highly anticipated matchup between two of the conference's top teams. In a tightly contested affair, the Trolls struck first, and their goal held up until the 82^nd minute when Salome Hernandez netted the equalizer, resulting in a thrilling 1-1 draw.
 
The RedHawks' defense, anchored by goalkeeper Isabel Escalera, was exceptional throughout the match. Escalera made several crucial saves, keeping the Trolls scoreless for the final 78 minutes. Her performance further solidified her as one of the top goalkeepers in the conference. Notably, her diving save off her own deflection in the second half was a pivotal moment, allowing IU Northwest to remain within striking distance.
 
A significant turning point in the match occurred in the 72^nd minute when star center back Nora Loebbert was issued a second yellow card, resulting in her being sent off. This left the RedHawks to play a man down for the remainer of the match. However, the team's reserves stepped up admirably in her absence, providing a spark on offense with four shots on goal, including two by Hernandez, who managed to score despite the team's disadvantage.
 
Olivia Hansen led the RedHawks' offensive attack with three shots, all of which were on goal. In total, the Trolls managed nine shots on goal compared to 11 from IU Northwest. The RedHawks also held an advantage in corner kicks, earning three to the Trolls' one.
 
With this draw, the RedHawks' record improved to 4-3-2 on the season and 1-0-1 in CCAC play, demonstrating their readiness to compete with the best in the conference. As the team looks ahead, they will travel to Bourbonnais, Illinois, this weekend to face the first-place Olivet Nazarene Tigers in what promises to be another challenging matchup.