Decatur, Ill. – The Thunder women's soccer team made the most of a big opportunity on Wednesday night at Millikin. Wheaton defeated the Big Blue 4-1 at Millikin's Frank M. Lindsay Field in the final match of the regular season. As a result of tonight's victory, and other matches tonight in the final evening of CCIW action, the Thunder secured a spot in the upcoming CCIW Women's Soccer Tournament. Not only did Wheaton earn the spot in the tournament, but the Thunder moved into the third seed in the tournament and the right to host a quarterfinal match.
The No. 3 seed Thunder will host No. 6 seed Carthage on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. at Joe Bean Stadium in one of two quarterfinal matches. Fourth-seeded Carroll hosts No. 5 Augustana at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The winner of Saturday's Wheaton/Carthage quarterfinal will face No. 2 seed North Central on Wednesday, November 2 in Naperville in the semifinal round. Top seeded Illinois Wesleyan will hosts the Augustana/Carroll winner next Wednesday in the other semifinal matchup.
Wheaton led Millikin 1-0 at halftime tonight in the meeting in Decatur. The Thunder scored three second-half goals in the 4-1 victory that knocked the Big Blue out of the CCIW Women's Soccer Tournament.
Wheaton out-shot the Big Blue decisively in the first half with a 9-1 shot advantage for the Thunder, including a 7-0 edge in shots on goal for the guests. Wheaton's third shot on goal of the match was a blast by
Katherine Ashley that landed in the back of the net in the 12
th minute.
Sophie Lindquist (PICTURED LEFT) assisted on the goal, Ashley's fourth goal of the season. Ashley's goal allowed the Thunder to hold a 1-0 lead at the halftime intermission.
Wheaton still had control in the majority of the second half as Wheaton out-shot the Big Blue 9-4, including an 8-2 edge in shots on goal.
Emily Setran was key in the second half as she scored her first goal of the season in the 51
st minute on shot from about five yards from the left side of the net.
Lauren Walmer assisted on Setran's goal. One minute and sixteen seconds later, Setran scored from about 10 yards out off of Lindquist's second assist of the evening. Millikin tallied their first goal of the evening in the 73rd minute as Bailee Blecker registered her sixth goal of the season for the hosts. Lindquist punctuated her strong night just 12 seconds after Blecker's goal with her third goal of the season. Lindquist put the ball into the net on a header from in front of the goal.
Thunder goalkeeper
Lauren Ketchum made one save and allowed just Blecker's goal in her 90 minutes of work. Millikin goalkeeper Sophie Dorgan made 11 saves, and allowed four goals in 90 minutes of action.
Wheaton out-shot Millikin 18-5 tonight, including a 15-2 edge in shots on goal. Wheaton was awarded seven corner kicks in the match and Millikin had one.
Saturday's CCIW Tournament Quarterfinal at Joe Bean Stadium has an admission of $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+) and students/children 6+. Children ages five and under are admitted for free. Wheaton students and students of any CCIW member institution are admitted for free with a valid student ID. As a CCIW Championship event, Wheaton season passes, CCIW Parents passes and team pass lists will not be accepted.
