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Sam Kedzior & Jerry Smazil
1
Millikin MIL (6-10-1, 2-5-1)
2
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU (11-2-4, 5-1-2)
Millikin MIL
(6-10-1, 2-5-1)
1
Final
2
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
(11-2-4, 5-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Millikin MIL 0 1 1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Clinches No. 2 Seed in CCIW Tournament with Win Over Millikin

Highest tournament seed since 2021

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.- The Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team clinched the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament with a 2-1 win over Millikin University Wednesday, Oct. 29. With the win, IWU earns a bye into the semifinals for the first time since 2021 and bumps its record to 11-2-4 overall (5-1-2 CCIW). 

Senior goalkeeper Sam Kedzior (Cary, Ill.-Cary Grove) tied his career high with 10 saves as he claimed sole possession of the program's all-time wins record. Kedzior, who furthered his hold on the program's all-time saves record, notched his 29th career victory to move ahead of Alex Ruckstaetter. Ruckstaetter registered 28 wins over the course of his career from 2016 to 2019.

The Green and White threatened early on excellent looks from senior Jerry Smazil (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) but saw the chances thwarted by MU as the game sat scoreless after 15 minutes.

A throw-in near midfield sent junior Faheem Mujahid (Saint Robert, Mo.-Waynesville) on a run down the far sideline, where the junior tracked down possession and entered the rigmarole that was the box. With the Big Blue in his way, Mujahid played a ball across the six to sophomore Ben Lyons (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) who tapped a pass to Titan leading point getter junior Ryder Coleman (Bannockburn, Ill.-Deerfield) for the go-ahead strike in the 18th minute. 

Illinois Wesleyan's shot attempt in the 51st minute was swallowed up by the Big Blue goalkeeper and quickly thrown out towards the far sideline, but Hunter Reinberg (Washington, Mo.-St. Francis Borgia) stepped in front to intercept the clear. After making a sliding effort to keep the ball inbounds, Reinberg collected himself and flew towards the box where he delivered a pass right in front of goal. Gaining the ball on the doorstep, Coleman buried his second goal of the day to double the lead, 2-0.

Millikin managed to break the shutout with a strike in the 56th minute to cut the Titans' advantage in half, 2-1. IWU nearly answered almost immediately as shots by Jerry Smazil and Coleman soared just high of goal as the home team kept up the intensity.

A trio of shots by the Big Blue followed, but Kedzior and the Titan defense held strong as the clock continued to wind towards zeros. Millikin mustered one last push for an equalizer in the final four minutes, but Kedzior made two stops and the Green and White back line forced an errant shot to hold on for the 2-1 victory.

The Green and White will await the winner of the Saturday, Nov. 6, quarterfinal match between No. 3 North Central College and No. 6 Carthage College. IWU will face the winner Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. under the lights at Neis Field.
 
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