NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- For the third time this season, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team went into overtime and came away with a victory. IWU defeated North Central by a final score of 2-1 in the first period of overtime on Saturday, Oct. 28 to secure their spot as the No. 2 seed in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) tournament.

This marks the second time Illinois Wesleyan has finished higher than third in conference play with the last coming in 1995. Since the postseason tourney was begun in 2002, the Titans have made the conference tournament five times (2003, 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2016) and have an 0-3-2 record.

With a win the Titans improved to 11-5-1 with a 6-2 mark in CCIW competition. North Central fell to 8-8-1 overall with a 5-3 record in the CCIW.

Sophomore Doug Ballard scored the game-winner for Illinois Wesleyan just 49 seconds into the overtime period with an assist from sophomore Justin Yaeger. Ballard leads the team with nine goals on the season, good for sixth most in program history.

It was sophomore Logan Alexander who started things off for the Titans however, giving IWU a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute. Illinois Wesleyan's defense held strong in the first half led by sophomore goalkeeper Alex Ruckstaetter's four saves.

IWU's defense continued to hold steady until the 73rd minute when North Central's Alex Perales scored the equalizer on a free kick. Despite being held scoreless in the second half, Illinois Wesleyan's offense continued to heat up with four shots on goal. Sophomore Spencer Bard nearly gave the Titans a victory in regulation, but his shot in the 90th minute was saved.

A red card at the end of regulation forced the Titans to play a man down in overtime, but IWU pushed past the adversity to collect their fifth victory in their last six matches.

Ruckstaetter finished the match with six saves to match his season-high set against Augustana on Oct. 25. Connor O'Neill allowed two goals and made five saves for the Cardinals.

Seniors Ryan Kaplan and Tom Nie, junior Mason Maier, and sophomores Patrick Hickey and Bard also tallied shots on goal.

What's Next?
The Titans will play host to an undecided opponent in the CCIW conference tournament at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31. It will mark the first time for IWU to host a game in the CCIW postseason tourney.