ELMHURST, Ill. – Behind a big night from junior Anna Fank (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.), Augustana picked up a key CCIW victory over Elmhurst Saturday, downing the Bluejays 4-0 at

Langhorst Field. The win was the second this week for the Vikings over a team ahead of them in the NCAA Division III Central Region rankings. Coach Scott Mejia's side—ranked eighth in the region—improved to 11-2-3 on the season and 4-1-2 in the conference, while the sixth-ranked hosts dropped to 9-4-1 overall and 4-3 in the league.
 
Augustana was the aggressor early, with senior Andria Serra (Alleman HS, Silvis, Ill.) putting three shots on goal in the first 12 minutes. Elmhurst keeper Sophia Tuliglowski was up to the challenge, stopping all three and another by freshman Marcela Arreguin (Beloit Memorial HS, Beloit, Wis.) in the 16th minute, but seconds later, sophomore Grace Sigler (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) put her header in the back of the net off an assist from senior Jordyn Sundberg (Aurora Central Catholic HS, Oswego, Ill.) to give Mejia's crew a 1-0 lead.
 
That's the way the first half would end. Each side got off seven shots in the period, although the Vikings put six on frame to two for the Bluejays, both of which were turned away by sophomore keeper Sydney Ion (Aquinas HS, La Crosse, Wis.).
 
The visitors extended their lead in the 54th minute. Abby Wendell's (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) corner found Fank, whose header beat Tuliglowski to make it 2-0.
 
In minute 63, Serra's team-leading seventh goal of the season pushed the advantage to 3-0. The score again originated with a Wendell corner. Fank got a head on it and Serra finished off the play. Fank was credited with her third assist of the season, while Wendell earned her ninth—currently tied for fifth-best in program history.
 
Augustana added the last goal in the final minute, when Fank tallied her third of the season on a penalty kick.
 
In addition to anchoring the defense in the Vikings' ninth shutout of the year, Fank finished with two goals and an assist. Wendell, another defensive stalwart, added a pair of assists. Ion recorded six saves and her sixth solo shutout of the season.
 
Augustana put 12 of 17 shots on frame, to six of 16 for Elmhurst. The Vikings had a 5-1 edge in corners and committed four of just six fouls whistled in a cleanly-played match that had no cautions issued.
 
Next up is a trip to Platteville, Wisconsin, where Augustana will face UW-Platteville in a 7:00 p.m. match on Wednesday, October 24.