Wheaton, Ill. -- Ahead of the start of this year's CCIW Tournament on Saturday, the conference has announced its 2026 All-CCIW Women's Soccer Teams. Three Wheaton players have earned recognition for their strong performances in the regular season. Lydia Martin was named the CCIW Goalkeeper of the Year and is the Thunder's lone representative on the All-Conference First Team, while the midfield pair of Lily Lindquist and Calah Strong garnered Second Team accolades. Martin becomes the first Wheaton shot-stopper to earn the conference prize since it was introduced in 2023, and she is the program's first specialty award winner in any category since former goalkeeper Lauren Ketchum was named the league's Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year in 2021.

Martin transferred to Wheaton earlier this year from Division I program University of San Francisco and made an immediate impact in her first campaign with the women's soccer team. The sophomore started five of the Thunder's eight CCIW matches this fall and earned shutouts in four of those games. She held Augustana College, Carthage College, and Carroll University scoreless in three-consecutive fixtures in the middle of October before becoming the first conference goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against Illinois Wesleyan University last Saturday with an impressive seven-save outing.

Martin finished the conference regular season with a 0.69 goals-against average from her six total appearances, conceding just four times across those six games. She led the league in save percentage this year, owning an impressive 86.2% figure with 25 total saves made. Martin's four shutouts in CCIW play were the joint-most of any conference keeper, and her four goals allowed was the lowest number by any shot-stopper in the league. She was named the CCIW Defensive Player of the Week on October 13 following her back-to-back clean sheets against Augustana and Carthage that kept Wheaton in the hunt for a top-four finish in the conference standings.

Lindquist (pictured right) earns her second-consecutive All-CCIW nod after being named a First Team honoree one year ago. The senior captain started all eight conference matches for Wheaton this fall and tallied seven total points in league play from three goals and one assist. She netted the game-sealing goal in the Thunder's 2-0 win at North Park University on September 26, opened the scoring four days later in a 3-3 draw at Millikin University, and buried the game-winning penalty kick at Illinois Wesleyan University last weekend. Lindquist's spot kick conversion in her team's 1-0 victory over IWU helped Wheaton clinch the #4 seed in the upcoming conference tournament and hosting rights for Saturday's quarterfinal round. The Minnesota native's assist came on the Thunder's second goal in a 2-0 home win over Augustana on October 7.

Lindquist attempted 22 shots in the regular season conference slate, good for second-most on the team and tied for sixth among all CCIW players this year. As a controller in the heart of midfield, she contributed defensively to Wheaton's five shutouts in conference play through her ball-winning tackles and interceptions, set piece marking, and positional awareness.

Fellow midfielder Strong (pictured below) picks up her first career All-CCIW honor after a standout sophomore season that saw her lead the team with four goals and nine total points 
in conference play. The Wheaton native made seven starts and eight appearances in league competition this year and led the CCIW in total shot attempts with 38. Her 14 attempts on target were tied for third-most among all conference players, and she was one of seven student-athletes to net two game-winning goals in CCIW play. Her tallies of nine points and four goals ranked tied for fourth and tied for third, respectively, in the conference in 2026. 

Strong registered the second goal in Wheaton's high-scoring tie at Millikin on September 30, bagged the eventual game-winner early in her team's 2-0 victory over Augustana, and came up with a clutch 85th-minute winner against Carroll on October 14 that helped the Thunder secure a spot in the top half of the conference table. She also found the back of the net in last Wednesday's contest at North Central College. Her assist in CCIW play came on Lindquist's second-half strike at North Park last month. Alongside her senior teammate in central midfield, Strong played a key defensive role in shielding the Thunder back line to help Wheaton earn a joint conference-best five clean sheets this fall.

In addition to the All-Conference First and Second Teams, the CCIW has announced each program's recipient of the RESPECT Award. At the conclusion of every sports season, each varsity program recognizes one student-athlete as their RESPECT Award honoree. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture. The Wheaton women's soccer team's RESPECT Award honoree for 2026 is senior midfielder Maddie Grinstead.

The Thunder will begin their postseason slate tomorrow afternoon with a CCIW Tournament Quarterfinal at home against North Park University. Wheaton is the fourth seed in this year's conference tournament, while the Vikings are the #5 seed. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:30 PM at Joe Bean Stadium. Saturday's winning team will advance to face the regular season champion, North Central College, in the semifinal round in Naperville on Wednesday night.