Dupage Policy Journal

The 2025 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Soccer Championship will begin on Saturday with quarterfinal matches featuring Illinois Wesleyan against Wheaton and Carthage facing Elmhurst. The winners will advance to the semifinals, where they will meet top-seeded North Central and second-seeded North Park next Wednesday.

Admission for tournament matches is set at $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children aged six and older, while children five and younger as well as CCIW students with a valid ID can attend for free. Payment is cash only at many campuses.

North Central enters the tournament as the top seed after winning the regular-season title with a 13-5-0 overall record and an undefeated 8-0-0 mark in conference play. The Cardinals have won nine straight matches since September 27 and are seeking their third consecutive CCIW Tournament championship. They ranked near the top of the league in several offensive categories, including goals, points, and corner kicks. Senior forward Jordan Lange led the team’s offense with 10 goals and seven assists, while goalkeeper Lily Mattison posted eight shutouts this season.

North Park qualified for the CCIW Tournament for the first time in program history by finishing second in the standings with a 9-8-0 overall record and a 6-2-0 conference record. Junior forward Sofia Svensson led North Park’s attack with 10 goals, while senior midfielder Caroline Sjøstedt contributed nine assists. Goalkeeper Paige MacRitchie recorded four shutouts.

Carthage returns to postseason play after missing out last year, finishing third in the standings with an 8-6-4 record overall. The Firebirds’ balanced approach saw them score 27 goals while conceding 26. Senior forward Eve Hockerman and junior midfielder Peyton Olinski were key contributors on offense, while goalkeeper Ainsley Stallworth collected seven shutouts during the season.

Illinois Wesleyan secured a home quarterfinal match by winning four of its last five conference games to finish fourth in the standings at 9-7-2 overall. The Titans had multiple players contributing offensively, including senior forward Liza Wiley and sophomore Keira Robinson. Goalkeeper Vanessa Gray added three solo shutouts over the campaign.

Wheaton placed fifth following a strong defensive showing throughout their season that resulted in six draws from their total of seventeen matches played. Junior goalkeeper Leah Roe was tied for second in league shutouts with seven.

Elmhurst rounds out the field after making consecutive postseason appearances for just the second time in program history. With a record of 12-5-2 overall, Elmhurst led all teams in scoring average (2.32 goals per game), total goals (44), points (114), shots (345), and also recorded eleven shutouts defensively this year.

Quarterfinals will take place on Saturday: Illinois Wesleyan hosts Wheaton at noon at Neis Field; Carthage hosts Elmhurst at 7 p.m., marking their second meeting within eight days after Elmhurst won their previous matchup.