Box score

Wheaton, Ill. -- One of the highest scoring teams in the nation got its biggest boost from a defender and a reserve forward right when they needed it.

Lauren Moser and Jami Herrmann both scored clutch goals to help Wheaton College women's soccer rally for a 2-1 win over Augustana College in the CCIW  Tournament semi-finals on Tuesday.

The Thunder improved to 17-3-1 overall and advance to Saturday's CCIW finals against either Carthage College or Illinois Wesleyan University. The Vikings ended their season with a 15-4-0 record.

In their last meeting, Wheaton won 3-0 on Sept. 25 at Rock Island as the Thunder outshot the Vikings 15-3. Like that previous game, Augustana's defense hung back with four defenders and relied on counterattacks to get their offense going.

The counterattack worked five minutes into the game as Augustana got on the move and resulted in a squibber goal by Caitlin Winkelman from about 18 yards out on the right side.

At least two defenders converged on the Wheaton forwards all game, cutting off passing lanes and blocking any good looks at the goal. The offense was frustrated until the 10:46 mark when Laura Karsten tapped a free kick to Moser, who blasted the ball high into the goal from 25 yards out.

The Thunder offense kept pressing for looks while the midfielders and defense did an admirable job of controlling the ball at midfield and limiting Augustana's rushes. Kelly Foltz in particular played physical defense to hold the Viking attackers in check.

"There's no doubt we have players in the back who are physical," Wheaton head coach Pete Felske said. "Kelly Foltz for her size is very strong and very feisty. Moser tonight got involved in the offense as well and gave us dangerous opportunities. When our team has a lot of energy in the back, it gives the others energy. Karsten and Lauren Lindner did that for us as well. They certainly energized us from the back to the front."

The score remained knotted at 1-1 until 65:21 in the second half. Taryne Lee threaded a perfect leading pass through the two defenders on her back to a streaking Herrmann, who tapped the ball right past the keeper in front of the goal.

"It's important other players off the ball don't watch," Felske said. "They have to keep moving and that's what happened on our second goal tonight. Taryne got the ball with her back to the goal and Jami made a fantastic run off the ball. As long as we're smart, I don't mind if they double or triple team us."

Wheaton held off Augustana the rest of the way and owned a 29-3 shot advantage in the game. Goalkeeper Ingrid Erickson got the win with one save while Kayla Radloff took the loss while making 11 saves.