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Men's soccer lined up during PKs
Jimmy Naprstek/Kodiak Creative
1
Augustana (IL) AUG (6-4-6, 2-3-3)
1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU (9-2-4, 5-1-2)
Augustana (IL) AUG
(6-4-6, 2-3-3)
1
Final
1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
(9-2-4, 5-1-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 OT 3 F
Augustana (IL) AUG 0 1 0 0 0 1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1 0 0 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Season Ends in Penalty Kicks in CCIW Quarters

Titans finish year 9-2-4

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The third-seeded Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team was bounced from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament by No. 6 seed Augustana College Saturday, Oct. 31 at Neis Field. The Titans and Vikings played to a 1-1 draw before Augie advanced in penalties. IWU concludes the season with a 9-2-4 record, while Augustana advances to the semifinals with a 6-4-6 mark.

Illinois Wesleyan was relentless, ripping off 32 shots against Augustana. The Titans put 14 on target, but the Vikings used 13 saves, including five in overtime, to push the game to penalties. Augie's offense made the most of its four shots, two on goal, with one finding the back of the net for the equalizer. The two teams combined for four corners, three for IWU and one for the visitors.

The match sat scoreless with 12 minutes left in the first half before an Augie foul gave the home team a free kick along the left sideline near the 18. Junior Ben Lyons (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) delivered a sinking shot on target that was batted away by a diving AC keeper. Freshman Declan Schuler (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) attempted the volley in the rebound, but a team save kept the Titans off the board. The relief was only temporary though, as sophomore Daniel Smazil (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) fired off back-to-back shots from just outside the box. The second Smazil strike bent inside the near post for a 1-nil lead. 

In the second half, IWU registered the first three shots of the period, but could not find an insurance tally as Augie equalized with just under 20 minutes left. 

With 12 minutes remaining, Augie had a free kick from 30 yards out that was snared by senior Owen Boukalik (Northville, Mich.-Northville). IWU had an opportunity at the buzzer, but senior Ryder Coleman's (Bannockburn, Ill.-Bannockburn) shot sailed high, sending the match into extra time.

In OT, the Titans had a pair of chances within the first minute. An Augie foul at the corner of the 18-yard box set up an IWU free kick, but the Vikings played it out cueing an IWU throw-in that was thwarted by Augie's goalkeeper. 

With 5:49 left in the first extra time period, the Vikings had a prime look that was spoiled by a Schuler slide tackle. In penalty kicks, the Vikings found the back of the net on their first three chances to punch their ticket to the semis.

The loss marks the end of the careers of Boukalik, Joey Rodino (Palatine, Ill.- William Fremd), Jackson Colman (Pflugerville, Texas-Cedar Park), Will Eiss (Rockton, Ill.-Hononegah Community), Chris Slack (Beason, Ill.-Beason), Coleman, Faheem Mujahid (Saint Robert, Mo.-Waynesville), and Matthew Perchik (Glenview, Ill.-New Trier). Together, the group helped IWU to two CCIW Tournament Championships and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. The class played a significant role in redefining the standards of Titan men's soccer including the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and a program record-setting win total in 2025.


 
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