WHEATON, Ill. – Augustana and sixth-ranked Wheaton couldn't settle their CCIW Tournament semifinal in 110 minutes Wednesday night, so the sides went to a shootout, where the Vikings came out on top 4-2 at Joe Bean Stadium. Coach Scott Mejia's squad, now 10-3-3 on the year, advances to the championship match against Illinois Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 in Bloomington, Illinois. The Thunder moved to 16-1-2, with an expected at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament awaiting.
 
Each side converted on their first two shootout tries, with Carney Blake and Sara Bakke finding the net for Wheaton and seniors Anna Fank (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) and Lauren Muzzalupo (St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, Ill.) doing the same for Augustana. Viking keeper Sydney Ion (Aquinas HS, La Crosse, Wis.)—who recorded a career-high 16 saves on the night—turned the tide in Augustana's favor when she stopped Taylor Rudin's try in round three. Junior Sandra Camarillo (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) converted to give the Vikings a 3-2 advantage and after the Thunder's fourth attempt went wide, junior Grace Sigler (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) knocked in the clincher.
 
Wheaton outshot its guests by a 16-0 margin in the first half, but Ion made 10 saves to keep the contest scoreless. Ion's total equaled her previous career high for an entire match.
 
In the second half, Augustana put all three of its shots on frame, but Thunder keeper Lauren Ketchum turned away respective attempts by freshman Maeve Sheridan (Mother McAuley HS, Chicago, Ill.), junior Cameron Kekelik (Munster HS, Munster, Ind.) and sophomore Marcela Arreguin (Beloit Memorial HS, Beloit, Wis.) in minutes 69, 72 and 74. Meanwhile, Ion continued her stellar play, adding three more saves—the last on a shot by Sophia Lindquist in the 85th minute.
 
Ion stopped two more Wheaton attempts in the first overtime and in the second, each side put one shot on goal. Ion posted her 16th and final save on a shot by Isabelle Oliver in the 107th minute and Ketchum rejected a Sigler try in minute 109.
 
The hosts finished with a 30-4 advantage in shots and took nine corners to the Vikings' one. Augustana committed five fouls to the Thunder's three and each side was issued a caution.