Box Score

WHEATON, Ill. - The No. 16-ranked Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team battled Wheaton to a 2-2 tie in the championship match of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament but the Thunder earned the league's automatic NCAA tournament bid by winning the shootout, 7-6, on Saturday (Nov. 5) at Wheaton's Joe Bean Stadium.

The Titans, in the CCIW tourney title match for the fourth straight year, finish their regular season with a 14-3-2 record while Wheaton is 18-1-2. The entire field for the NCAA Division III tournament will be announced at 12:30 p.m. on Monday (Nov. 7) at ncaa.com.

Illinois Wesleyan, consistently ranked among the top 20 throughout the season, has made three straight and four all-time NCAA playoff appearances.

Wheaton held a 1-0 lead at halftime as the Thunder tallied just 5:34 into the match on a goal from Laura Karsten with assists to Erin Strom.

IWU evened the score on a penalty kick goal by senior Molly O'Brien (her 18th of the season) at the 55:54 mark but just 30 seconds later, at 56:26, Wheaton scored to make it 2-1 when Anna Seabolt scored from five yards out on an assist from Keri Shannon.

The Titans tied the match at 2-2 on a goal from Emily Hinchman, putting the ball in the upper 90 with just 4:29 to play in regulation. Assists went to O'Brien and senior Lauren Knaack.

IWU's six shootout scores came from Hinchman, junior Jill Olliges, O'Brien, junior Alice Fontana, Knaack and sophomore Tillie Bill.

The Thunder's seven scores in the shootout were by Esther Tan, Ann Turner, Val Lelle, Sarah Guidera, Marlee Disher, Hilary Quinn and Dani DeLeon.

Illinois Wesleyan sophomore keeper Renata Butikas was brilliant in goal, making 14 saves, while Wheaton's Kelsey Graham made four saves. Illinois Wesleyan finished with 15 shots compared to 28 for the Thunder.

NOTES: This is the sixth time the Titans and Thunder have met in the CCIW tournament championship match with Wheaton now leading by a 4-0-2 count...The Titans and Wheaton also tied in 2010 (0-0) and Illinois Wesleyan claimed the title and the NCAA Division III tournament automatic bid by winning the shootout, 3-1...Wheaton downed the Titans in 2002 (2-1), 2004 (5-1), 2005 (4-0) and 2008 (1-0).