BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's soccer team put on a consistent offensive and defensive effort in a 1-nil victory in its semifinal match of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament against North Central College, Wednesday, Nov. 6. IWU  advanced to their fifth straight CCIW final, winning titles last year and in 2015.

Both teams were held scoreless in the first half with IWU firing off 12 shots while the defense allowed only one.

In the 54th minute, after senior Ellie Crabtree (Springfield, Ill.-Edwardsville HS) had her shot blocked, freshman Lauren Shanks (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic) took a shot inside the box that was initially saved by the North Central goalkeeper. Shanks found the ball in traffic and buried it in the back of the net to give IWU the decisive 1-0 advantage.

Sophomore Maria Fields (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East HS) kept a clean sheet in goal, saving two shots in the process. The Titans logged 24 shots with nine on goal while holding the Cardinals to only four shots. For drawing corner kicks, IWU held the advantage over North Central five to three.

Illinois Wesleyan will return to Neis Field Saturday, Nov. 9, as host of the CCIW Championship match against fourth-seeded Augustana College. The Vikings advanced via penalty kicks to best top-seeded Wheaton. The title game is scheduled for 1 p.m.