WAUKESHA, Wis. — Carthage became a first-time College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Lacrosse Tournament champion on Saturday afternoon, earning a 9-6 win over top-seeded Carroll at Schneider Stadium in Waukesha, Wis. 
 
The tournament title is the first in program history for the Firebirds, who had been winless in five previous appearances in the CCIW Tournament championship game. With the victory, Carthage also secured the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship.
 
Carthage took control early, scoring the first two goals of the game in the opening five minutes. Auggie Claridge scored both goals for the Firebirds. Carthage added three more goals in the opening period and led 5-1 after the first 15 minutes.
 
Carroll responded over the second and third quarters, outscoring Carthage 5-3 during that stretch. Elizabeth Wang scored twice in the second period for the Pioneers, and Rebecca Hallman brought Carroll within one goal at 7-6 with 4:43 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Carthage answered later in the third quarter when Claridge scored her fourth goal of the game to extend the Firebirds’ lead to 8-6. The Firebirds added one more goal and held Carroll scoreless in the fourth quarter. Carthage limited the Pioneers to five shots in the final period, while goalkeeper Xochitl Delvale-Vera made four of her eight saves during the closing quarter.
 
Carroll finished with a 26-16 advantage in total shots, but Carthage placed 12 of its 16 shots on goal. The Pioneers put 11 of their 26 attempts on frame. Carroll also held advantages in ground balls, 19-12, and draw controls, 10-7.
 
Claridge led Carthage with four goals and two assists. Kyleigh Higgins added one goal and three assists for the Firebirds. Wang scored two goals for Carroll, while Paige Helms finished with three assists. Delvale-Vera earned the win in goal with eight saves, and Carroll’s Devon Duym made five saves.
 
The result marked a reversal from the 2025 CCIW championship game, when Carroll defeated Carthage 12-2 to win its first conference tournament title.
 
Before the start of the championship game, the CCIW recognized Carroll’s Sierra Langkamp as the recipient of the CCIW Elite 26 award. Modeled after the NCAA’s Elite Scholar Athlete program, the award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average competing in the conference championship final.
 
Carthage became the fifth different program to win the CCIW Women’s Lacrosse Tournament since the conference began sponsoring the sport in 2015. Augustana won the first two tournament titles in 2015 and 2016, followed by Illinois Wesleyan’s three-year run from 2017 through 2019. Former associate member Chicago won four consecutive titles from 2021 through 2024 before Carroll won the tournament in 2025.