GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Wheaton earned its second consecutive CCIW Championship with a 1-0 victory over North Park.

VIDEO OF STEPHEN GOLZ' GAME-WINNING GOAL

Wheaton, Ill.- With all the hype and circumstances surrounding Friday night's CCIW battle, Wheaton and North Park did not disappoint. In front of a large and raucous crowd at Joe Bean Stadium, the eighth-ranked Thunder and 17th-ranked Vikings battled to a scoreless draw for more than 80 minutes before Wheaton (15-3-1, 6-0-1)finally broke the tie in the 85th minute with a game-winning goal by Stephen Golz. The Thunder did now allow North Park (11-5-2, 4-2-1) another look at goal and Wheaton earned the 1-0 victory. With the victory Wheaton secured its second consecutive CCIW title and also secured its second consecutive undefeated run through the CCIW schedule.

Wheaton outshot the Vikings 18-4 in the match including a 10-1 edge in Wheaton's dominant first half. The Thunder had four corner kick opportunities against just two for the Vikings. Both goalies were outstanding with Wheaton's Derek Babb (PICTURED RIGHT) making one save and North Park's Wesley Woodley surrendering one goal while makings five saves.

The Thunder controlled the run of play in the first half, continuously putting pressure on the Vikings and forcing Woodley to make four saves in order to keep the game scoreless at halftime.

Play opened up in the second half and both teams delivered threatening attempts at breaking the scoreless tie. In the 65th minute, Jordan Golz' header flew just over the crossbar and a minute later North Park's Jonas Pettersson just missed the left post from six yards out.

Finally, Wheaton took advantage of its opportunity off a free kick in the 85th minute. Playing off the flag, Noah Anthony played short to Adam Blackman who worked around a defender on the end line and placed a perfectly lobbed pass across the mouth of goal to an oncoming Stephen Golz (PICTURED LEFT) at the top of the box. Golz headed the ball past a diving Woodley and into the left side of the net to give Wheaton the lead at the 84:47 mark.

Wheaton would not allow North Park to rally as the Thunder collected in the defense and almost added another goal in the closing seconds of the match when Marshall Hollingsworth broke free but was stopped by Wesley in the open field.

With the victory, Wheaton secured home field advantage for the upcoming CCIW Tournament. The Thunder will open the tournament with a rematch of tonight's match. Wheaton will host North Park at 7 PM on Tuesday night at Joe Bean Stadium. Season and family passes will not be allowed for entrance to Joe Bean Stadium. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Admission is free for all students with a valid CCIW-member student ID and all children under the age of five.

Note worthy: The goal by Stephen Golz was his 15th of the season but just his first in CCIW play...Wheaton is now unbeaten in its last 16 CCIW contests...the assist by Blackman was his sixth of the season to go with six goals...in the last two Wheaton-North Park matchups Wheaton has outshot the Vikings 48-14...Wheaton finished the regular season on an 11-game unbeaten streak since a 2-0 loss to Loras on September 24.

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