GAME STATS Naperville, Ill. – The No. 3 seed Wheaton Thunder women's soccer team (6-9-3) traveled to North Central College (12-1-5) on Wednesday night to face the No. 2 seed Cardinals  in a semifinal match of the 2022 CCIW Women's Soccer Tournament. The Cardinals won tonight's match 1-0 and advance to Saturday's CCIW Championship  Match to face top seed Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Illinois.
 
The North Central attack put pressure on Wheaton in the first half as the Cardinals out-shot the Thunder 10-3 in the opening half. The Cardinals had a 6-3 edge in shots on goal as all three Wheaton shot attempts in the first half were on goal. The Cardinals attempted three corner kicks in the first half and Wheaton was awarded one. The two teams played to a scoreless draw in the first 45 minutes action.

The Cardinals continued to attack the Thunder defense in the second half. In the 77^th minute, a Wheaton player and North Central's Sarah Andrey both went for a loose ball and collided with each other on the left edge of the penalty area. The officials said that Andrey was fouled on the collision as both players went for the ball and North Central was awarded a penalty kick opportunity. NCC's Ellie Lochbaum lofted her penalty kick attempt into the top left of the net to put the hosts up 1-0 and give North Central the breakthrough goal.  The Cardinals held a 10-2 shot advantage in the second half, including a 5-1 edge in shots on goal.
 
Thunder senior goalkeeper Lauren Ketchum was stellar in her final match in net for Wheaton. The All-American made nine saves in 90 minutes of action, allowing just the penalty kick. North Central netminder Jordan Boyd made four saves in recording the shutout for the Cardinals.
 
North Central held a 20-5 advantage in shots on goal, including an 11-4 edge in shots on goal. The Cardinals were awarded five corner kicks, with one going to the Thunder. North Central had eight fouls in the match and Wheaton recorded seven.