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Titans huddle after falling in PKs
© AshtinElder
1
Wheaton (IL) WHEAT (6-5-7, 3-2-3)
1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU (9-7-3, 4-3-1)
Wheaton (IL) WHEAT
(6-5-7, 3-2-3)
1
Final
1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
(9-7-3, 4-3-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 OT 3 F
Wheaton (IL) WHEAT 0 1 0 0 0 1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 0 1 0 0 0 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Women’s Soccer Sees Season End in PKs in CCIW Quarterfinals

Titans post best record since 2022

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The fourth-seeded Illinois Wesleyan University women's soccer team's season came to a close in penalty kicks against fifth-seeded Wheaton College Saturday afternoon, Nov. 1, in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Quarterfinals at Neis Field. Sophomore Liza Wiley (Bloomington, Ind.-Home School) gave the Titans hope with a game-tying goal late in regulation, but the Thunder (6-5-7) advanced on PKs, 4-3.

Sophomore Vanessa Gray (Burlington, Ontario, Canada-Dr. Frank J. Hayden) made five saves in the contest as the Green and White's season came to a close with a 9-7-3 overall record. The Titans posted their most wins since the 2022 season and saw three named to the All-CCIW teams.

IWU ripped off 22 shots to WC's seven, registering a 12-6 lead in shots on target. The Titans also led in corners, 5-2, but the Thunder keeper used 11 saves to keep Illinois Wesleyan at bay.

The game remained deadlocked at zero until the 70th minute. After a yellow card on the Titans, the Thunder earned a free kick near midfield. The restart was sent in to give  Wheaton control near the six, as Olivia Martin beat her defender and chipped it in from inside the box. 

With the Titans' season on life support, the Thunder gave IWU a gift with a free kick 15 yards right of goal with 1:25 remaining. Senior Kayley Carew (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) floated one up towards the box, where Wiley leaped to head the ball into the back of the net, tying the game 1-1.

Wiley nearly gave IWU the win with 15 seconds left, but a key save from Wheaton's Leah Roe preserved the tie and sent things to overtime.

After an eventful overtime period ended without a goal, Illinois Wesleyan nearly notched the game-winner in the second OT segment. Playing a corner short, the Titans sent a delayed cross into the box, but the ball soared just far to evade the effort of IWU's striker at the far post.

Wheaton pieced together one last ditch effort with less than two minutes left in overtime, but Gray stepped in front to disrupt the scoring attempt. The Titan keeper was barreled by the Thunder, but Gray was unfazed as she covered up Wheaton's second attempt to keep the 1-1 score intact. The opportunity proved to be the final of the day as the whistle sounded to send the quarterfinal clash to PKs.

Illinois Wesleyan saw penalties converted by seniors Bree Cordray (Bloomington, Ill.-University High) and Carew along with sophomore Keira Robinson (Bloomington, Ind.-Bloomington), but Wheaton ultimately came away with four makes to advance to the CCIW Tournament Semifinals. The Thunder will face top-seeded North Central College Wednesday evening, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m., while the Titans season comes to an end.

Saturday's tournament clash marked the final match in the careers of Cordray, Maya Flemming (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge), Jenna Gravitt (Morton, Ill.-Morton), and Carew.



 
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