Wheaton, Ill. - In the regular season finale, the Wheaton men's soccer team hosted the North Central Cardinals, with both sides unbeaten in conference play entering the match. The Thunder had already secured the regular season title with their 7-0-0 record and were set to host a conference tournament semifinal regardless of the outcome. Still, there was much on the line, as North Central entered riding an eight-match unbeaten streak against Wheaton dating back to 2017. Tonight's contest ended in a 2-2 draw, with all four goals coming in the first 45 minutes before both defenses locked in for the second half. Wheaton finishes conference play 7-0-1, while North Central closes at 4-0-4.

The CCIW Championship is Wheaton's conference record 22nd and the second-consecutive title under head coach Steve McCrath. The Thunder men's soccer team was presented with its conference championship trophy at the conclusion of tonight's match.

North Central produced the first real chance of the match in the fifth minute, working the ball across the pitch before their forward hesitated and pushed a shot just over the crossbar and into the protective netting. Wheaton struck first in the 10th minute, as Mason Louth got on the end of a sharp pass from Timmy Jones. After three controlled touches, Louth whipped a low cross into the box that deflected off a Cardinal defender and into the net for an own goal, giving Wheaton the early 1-0 advantage.

The Thunder doubled their lead in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a corner from Craig Rusin. The sequence began with a pinpoint through ball from Luke Vander Kolk to Louth, whose cross was headed out of play by a defender. Rusin then delivered a high, looping corner into the area, where Wes Seneff rose to meet it. His header beat the keeper, but Jack Kern made sure, tapping it across the line to make it 2-0 Wheaton.

North Central pulled one back in the 31st minute when a NCC player cut inside and found freshman Aleks Duncevic near the top left of the box. He struck a low-driven effort with his left foot that tucked neatly inside the bottom-right corner, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Cardinals equalized just minutes later when Griffin French, lingering at the top of the box, took a second-touch strike that curled into the bottom-left corner, leveling the match at 2-2.

By halftime, the two sides were even in shots, saves, and, significantly, goals. Wheaton held an edge in possession at 58-42%.

The second half remained tense, with both teams trading quality chances. Wheaton's first opportunity came in the 49th minute on a free kick that caused chaos in the box. The loose ball fell to Kyle Johnson, whose low-driven shot was mishandled by the keeper before Cooper Falling followed up with a strike that missed just wide left. Later, Ashur Eshw worked down the flank and connected with Kern, who laid it off for Johnson in the center of the box, but his effort again missed narrowly left.

North Central answered with a pair of dangerous looks of their own. Their forward broke free outside the box but pulled his shot right of goal. Then, in the 70th minute, a turnover led to a counter down the right wing. After two quick touches, the Cardinals unleashed a strike from distance, but Wheaton keeper Jack Krahel made a strong save to preserve the draw.

Wheaton pressed late, including a header from Timmy Jones off a Rusin corner, and a promising buildup where Falling found Johnson across the pitch. However, a sliding tackle from a North Central defender broke up the play and effectively ended Wheaton's final attack as the match finished level.

Thunder scoring came via an own goal and a tally from Kern, with assists credited to Seneff and Rusin. Johnson led the attack with two shots on target, while Falling, Seneff, Kern, and Vander Kolk each added one. Krahel finished with three saves.

As a team, Wheaton outshot North Central 14-10, held a 7-5 edge in corners, and dominated possession 62-38%. The Thunder closed conference play with the lowest goals-against average in the CCIW, largest average margin of victory, and highest save percentage in the league.

Individually, Vander Kolk and Kern tied for fifth in the conference with four goals apiece. Falling and Rusin also ranked fifth in assists with four, while Rusin finished fifth overall in points with 10.

Tonight ended the regular season for all men's soccer teams in the conference. #1-seed Wheaton will face the winner of this Saturday's quarterfinal match between #5-Carroll versus #4-North Park in Chicago. The advancing team from the Carroll-North Park match will face Wheaton at Joe Bean Stadium next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Admission for each CCIW Men's Soccer Tournament match is $10 for adults, seniors (65 and up), students and children (6+) are $5, children under five are admitted for free. Current CCIW students are free with a current CCIW-member school ID.