Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder women's soccer team hosted Millikin in the regular season finale on Wednesday night at Joe Bean Stadium. A late Thunder goal setup a 2-2 draw between Wheaton and the Big Blue (6-5-4, 2-2-4 CCIW). Wheaton is now 6-6-5 on the season, including a 5-1-2 record in CCIW play following tonight's match.

Wheaton will be the No. 2 seed in the 2023 CCIW Women's Soccer Tournament that begins on Saturday. The Thunder and top seed North Central will each earn a bye in Saturday's Quarterfinal matches. Wheaton will host a semifinal match next Wednesday (Nov. 1) at 4:30 p.m. at Joe Bean Stadium. The Thunder will entertain either No. 3 seed Carroll or No. 6 seed Illinois Wesleyan in the semifinal. The Pioneers and the Titans play a Quarterfinal on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Waukesha.  

Wheaton scored first in tonight's match against Millikin. Senior Audrey Sexson put the ball in the lower right of the net just 2:25 into the match to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Shay Montayre started the play with a pass to Mia Blair who expertly put the ball into the top of the box where Sexson received it and connected for her sixth goal. A little more than two and a half minutes later, Millikin tied the match at 1-1 on a goal by Haillie Schafman at the 6:57 mark. The Big Blue gained a 2-1 lead on a goal by Bailee Blecker in the 29^th minute. Blecker dribbled the ball into the box and shot into the corner of the goal and the ball went into the net off a deflection. Millikin maintained the 2-1 lead for the rest of the first half.

The Big Blue out-shot the Thunder 7-6 in the first half, including a 6-4 edge in shots on goal. Wheaton was awarded three corner kicks in the first half, Millikin had none.

The Thunder largely controlled the pace in the second half, out-shooting the Big Blue 15-1. Midway through the second half, an apparent Millikin goal was ruled offsides and the goal was negated as the guests remained in the lead 2-1. Sexson tallied her second goal of the night with just 53-seconds left in the match to tie the contest at 2-2. Wheaton was awarded a free kick with around two minutes remaining, after a lengthy period of time to setup the free kick, Sexson blasted the ball into the top right corner of the net to even the match at 2-2.

Wheaton's second half helped the Thunder to a 21-8 advantage in shots for the match. The Thunder had an 11-7 edge in shots on goal in the contest. Wheaton was awarded eight corner kicks in the match and Millikin had four.

Wheaton goalkeeper Myah Schoolman made five saves and allowed two goals in 90 minutes of work in the net. Millikin netminder Sophie Dorgan stopped nine shots, with two goals allowed.