Wheaton, Ill. (11/4) – The Wheaton men's soccer team (12-7-3) was a 3-0 victor against Augustana (10-9-0) on Saturday night in the Championship Match of the 2006 CCIW Men's Soccer Tournament. Wheaton was the third-seeded team in the tournament and Augustana was the fourth-seed. Wheaton head coach Joe Bean said of tonight's win, “We played very well against a dangerous team.”

Wheaton has earned the CCIW's automatic bid to the 2006 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament as a result of tonight's victory. Wheaton will be appearing in its 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament and making a Division III-best 29th overall appearance in the tournament. The NCAA Tournament will begin next week and the NCAA will announce the tournament pairings on Monday morning.

Steve Rigby (LEFT) gave Wheaton a 1-0 lead just 2:05 into the match when he put the ball into the lower right corner of the net, past Augustana goalkeeper Michael Dolan. The goal was the team-high 12th of the season for Rigby on a double assist from Ben Theimer and Jonathan Liechty. The Thunder maintained its 1-0 lead for the remainder of the first half.

Junior Strider Elass (RIGHT) booted a goal 70:40 into the match thanks to a double-assist from Liechty and Rigby. The Thunder victory was secured 86:49 into the match when Wheaton goalkeeper Ryan Souders (LEFT) booted the ball downfield and it was collected by Elass who lofted the ball over Dolan's head for a 3-0 Thunder lead that would become the final score.

Wheaton out-shot the Vikings 20-12 and held a 10-4 edge in corner kicks. Souders made five saves on the night as he recorded his eighth shutout of the year. Dolan made five saves and allowed three goals in the Vikings' net.