CCIW

[Gregory Sager]

Chicago makes the goal scored a half-minute before halftime stand up, as the Maroons snap NPU's seven-game winning streak with a 1-0 win.

The Vikings certainly had their chances for an equalizer in the second half, but, overall, I thought that Chicago clearly outplayed NPU.

[blue_jays]

Chicago makes the goal scored a half-minute before halftime stand up, as the Maroons snap NPU's seven-game winning streak with a 1-0 win.

The Vikings certainly had their chances for an equalizer in the second half, but, overall, I thought that Chicago clearly outplayed NPU.

The Maroons evidently love playing 1-0 games this season. But with the schedule of heavyweights/contenders they've played this year, they are a battle tested bunch. Their SOS is gonna be nutty by season's end. I think there's only one other NESCAC school that's close.

[Gregory Sager]

According to the NCAA website, Chicago's strength of schedule is the third-best in the nation, behind Amherst's and Wash U's. It wouldn't surprise me if Chicago moves into the top spot after tonight; the Maroons at least oughta move ahead of their archrivals in St. Louis in that category, seeing as how the Bears played a team tonight that has a grand total of one win this season.

[Gregory Sager]

The other two CCIW non-conference contests ended up being shutout losses as well. Millikin fell at home to #16 Wash U, 2-0, and Augustana was dealt an atomic wedgie by UW-Whitewater, 8-0, up north of the Cheddar Curtain.

In CCIW play, at the Beanpatch:

Wheaton 1
Elmhurst 0

WC: Moyes (3) 11:46

Wheaton prevails in a game that was statistically fairly even. This has major playoff implications, and really solidifies Wheaton's case while putting the 'jays behind the 8-ball in terms of making the CCIW tourney.

* * *

At the Schneid:

Illinois Wesleyan 2
Carroll 1

IWU: Kokes (5) 14:32, Smith (2) 21:19
CU: Gonzaga (6) 86:05

IWU consolidates its place in the all-important top four of the standings, while Carroll fades into the sunset and is now mathematically eliminated from CCIW tourney consideration. How odd is it that the team that couldn't beat anybody in non-conference play is now cleaning up against CCIW foes, while the team that couldn't lose early on against non-conference foes is getting its hat handed to it in league play?

CCIW standings

team	CCIW	overall	SUN	WED	SAT
1North Park	7-0	12-4		--bye--	@ AC
North Central	4-1-1	14-1-1		vs. WC	vs. CU
Illinois Wesleyan	4-2	5-7-1		@ MU	vs. CC
Wheaton	3-2-1	8-5-1		@ NCC	@ MU
Elmhurst	3-3-1	7-7-2		vs. CC	@ UWP
Carthage	2-3-1	10-5-2	@ UWP	@ EU	@ IWU
eCarroll	1-4-1	8-6-1		@ AC	@ NCC
eMillikin	1-4-1	1-11-2		vs. IWU	vs. WC
eAugustana	0-6	4-9		vs. CU	vs. NPU

[deiscanton]

According to the NCAA website, Chicago's strength of schedule is the third-best in the nation, behind Amherst's and Wash U's. It wouldn't surprise me if Chicago moves into the top spot after tonight; the Maroons at least oughta move ahead of their archrivals in St. Louis in that category, seeing as how the Bears played a team tonight that has a grand total of one win this season.

As of October 20, when the NCAA website last updated the "Toughest Schedule" of DIII teams through October 19, Chicago's expected cumulative OWP (which takes into account opponents played after October 19, 2021) will be .697 at the end of the season, which is #1 in that category.  Therefore, Chicago is expected to move into the top spot in terms of strength of schedule-- if not in the next update-- then definitely by the time that selections to the NCAA DIII tournament will be made.  Amherst's expected cumulative OWP will be .664, while Wash U has an expected cumulative OWP of .653.

[Gregory Sager]

Carthage got a goal from Aidan Crowder in the 25th minute at UW-Platteville and made it stand up, defeating the Pioneers, 1-0, for a very nice road win against a quality opponent.

The Firebirds are peaking at the right time, but as the current sixth-place team they still have a lot of work to do, and it's all on the road. Fortunately for them, the fact that they're closing out the regular season this week against two teams ahead of them in the standings (Elmhurst and Illinois Wesleyan) means that their fate is in their own hands.

[Mr.Right]

 Well done Sager....way to fill the void...something that might help me would be ur take on each of these schools in general. I do not know some of them and maybe ur take on what they are known for

[markerickson]

In person, I saw the U of C miss at least three golden opportunities, and NP's netminder made several great saves in the second half.  The score could have been 5-0 or 6-1.  NPU did not look aggressive at all.

[Gregory Sager]

In person, I saw the U of C miss at least three golden opportunities, and NP's netminder made several great saves in the second half.  The score could have been 5-0 or 6-1.  NPU did not look aggressive at all.

It also could've been 2-1 or 3-1 in NPU's favor. The Vikings definitely had their chances ... and if a couple of second-half fouls within the Chicago 18 had been called (one a handball, the other a play in which Maroons GK Calvin Walters grabbed the arm of NPU forward Patrick Knap while kicking NPU midfielder Toby Lunde in the stomach as the ball was entering the six), the Vikings might've received a couple of PKs. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. That stuff doesn't matter. Soccer's full of missed chances, and both sides had 'em on Saturday. Let's move on.

[deiscanton]

According to the NCAA website, Chicago's strength of schedule is the third-best in the nation, behind Amherst's and Wash U's. It wouldn't surprise me if Chicago moves into the top spot after tonight; the Maroons at least oughta move ahead of their archrivals in St. Louis in that category, seeing as how the Bears played a team tonight that has a grand total of one win this season.

The NCAA website has updated the Toughest Schedule section for games played through Sunday, October 24--

1.)  Chicago has taken over the #1 spot on strength of schedule based on OWP with an OWP of .710

2.)  Amherst is #2 with an OWP of .706, but is expected to enter the NESCAC tournament on Saturday with a cumulative OWP of .674

3.)  Christopher Newport is #3 with an OWP of .705

UAA teams occupy spots 4 through 6 in today's OWP rankings.  Emory has an OWP of .681, NYU has an OWP of .679, and Wash U has an OWP of .677

Millikin has the 9th toughest SOS with an OWP of .644, best OWP among CCIW teams.  (The one win team that Wash U played a few days ago....)

[Gregory Sager]

Millikin has the 9th toughest SOS with an OWP of .644, best OWP among CCIW teams.  (The one win team that Wash U played a few days ago....)

Yes, we're familiar with Millikin here in the CCIW soccer room, Allen.

Another explanation for that 9th-toughest SOS you mentioned is that Millikin is the one CCIW team that doesn't get its OWP dragged down by having to play Millikin. 

[Gregory Sager]

Final from Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium:

North Central 5
Wheaton 1

NCC: Kraemer (5) 25:05, Harmsen (3) 62:18; Richardson (3) 76:50, Johnson (1) 79:08, Hesby (5) 85:17
WC: Martens (5) 71:35

Whoa. Talk about an improbable result for both teams; the identities of the winner and loser were expected, but the way that the game played out certainly wasn't. The Cards busted open a tie game in the later minutes with four -- count 'em, four -- goals off of a usually-reliable Wheaton backline & goalkeeper. This brings NCC closer to cementing the #2 seed in the upcoming CCIW tourney and puts Wheaton's own hopes for the tourney in jeopardy.

* * *

Final from Thorsen-Lucken Field:

Augustana 6
Carroll 1

AC: Hemgren (2) 23:48, Reuter (1) 35:09, Gabrielson (6) 39:46, Gabrielson (7) 43:10, Shakar (1) 49:53, Krause (1) 51:13
CU: Buffington (3) 78:07

This one was almost as weird an outcome as the WC @ NCC game. After eight straight losses in which they scored only six goals total and were shut out four times, the dam suddenly broke in Augie's favor in a big way with five goals in a 16-minute stretch. Augie only had seven shots on goal for the game, but Carroll failed to stop six of 'em. Carroll, meanwhile, lost its third straight and the sixth of its last seven games, as the Pioneers continued to be exposed after their laughably easy non-conference schedule had allowed them to rack up a distorted 7-1 record.

* * *

Final from Lindsay Field:

Illinois Wesleyan 4
Millikin 2

IWU: Kokes (7) 23:10, Kokes (8) 48:00, Hart (2) 74:03, Rodriguez (2) 80:03
MU: Lindmark (1) 20:05, Smaaberg (3) 23:14

... and then there's Illinois Wesleyan, which has gone about its season in the opposite fashion from Carroll. The Titans couldn't buy a win to save their lives in non-con play, but have definitely found the magic against CCIW opponents. This win clinches at least the #3 seed in the CCIW tourney for the Titans, who have a distant shot at #2 but will most likely be traveling to Naperville next Wednesday to face NCC in one of the two CCIW tourney semifinals.

* * *

Final from Langhorst Field:

Elmhurst 2
Carthage 1

EU: Lucas (3) 63:40, Loebel (2) 83:36
CC: Reilly (9) 48:32

In a battle of two teams that were in must-win territory, Elmhurst consolidated its grip on fourth place and the final seed in the CCIW tourney ... for now. On the other hand, Carthage's rollercoaster ride of a season has now come to a full and complete stop. The safety bar has returned to its upright position, and the Firebirds must now exit the car and leave the ride. Their season will end with Saturday's regular-season finale in Bloomington.

[Gregory Sager]

Three teams are set for next week's CCIW tourney:

1 -- North Park (7-0)
2/3 -- North Central (5-1-1)
2/3 -- Illinois Wesleyan (5-2)

What we know for certain are that NPU will be hosting a game next Wednesday against either Elmhurst or Wheaton, and that NCC and IWU will square off in the other semifinal, at a site to be determined. NCC, which owns the H2H over Illinois Wesleyan, can clinch the #2 seed and homefield advantage against the Titans by beating or tying Carroll in Naperville on Saturday, or by Carthage either tying or beating the Titans in Bloomington on Saturday. The Titans need to beat the Firebirds while getting big-time help from the slumping Pioneers this weekend in the form of a Carroll win, a combination of outcomes that doesn't seem very likely.

As for the fourth and final seed, Elmhurst is currently in fourth place with a 4-3-1 record and has completed CCIW play; the Bluejays finish up their regular-season slate Saturday by hosting UW-Platteville. Wheaton sits a half-game behind the 'jays at 3-3-1, but Wheaton owns the H2H over Elmhurst. That means that a Wheaton win over Millikin in Decatur on Saturday propels the Sons of Bean into the tournament and a Wednesday date with NPU at Hedstrand Field. A loss or a tie to Millikin spells the end of Wheaton's season and a reprieve for Elmhurst, who would thereby get to be NPU's visitor next week instead.

[mr_b]

North Park takes out Augie, 7-1.  Peder Olsen and Jesse Anamoo each tallied two goals.

[Gregory Sager]

Final from Lindsay Field:

Wheaton 2
Millikin 0

WC: D'Argento (5) 4:24, D'Argento (6) 21:40

Congrats to Wheaton upon clinching the #4 seed for the tournament. The Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance came close to missing two CCIW tourneys for the first time ever, but getting to play inept Millikin on the last day of the regular season is a nice ace in the hole to have if you're John Gosling.

* * *

Final from Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium:

North Central 1
Carroll 0

NCC: Richardson (6) 14:09

Cardinals close out the regular season by maintaining momentum, as the obvious choice for CCIW Defensive Player of the Year, Cards GK Sid Marquardt, registers yet another clean sheet.

* * *

Final from Neis Field:

Carthage 2
Illinois Wesleyan 0

CC: Reilly (10) 2:28, Reilly (11) 44:43

The Titans go stumbling into the postseason, as the Firebirds finish a disappointing year with a flourish on the road. Speaking of Wheaton missing tourneys, this will be the first time ever that Carthage has sat out two straight CCIW tourneys. Mickey Reilly really turned it up over the past few weeks for Carthage and has become one of the better offensive players in the region.

* * *

Final from Thorson-Lucken Field:

North Park 7
Augustana 1

NPU: Olsen (14) 8:18, Olsen (15) 14:03, Barriga (5) 50:13, Knap (4) 60:38, Anamoo (10) 65:02, Anamoo (11) 81:48, Wickman (1) 84:13
AC: Baumgartner (5) 30:44

Congrats to NPU, which ran the table in the CCIW for the first time ever. The Vikings have gone undefeated in CCIW play three times previous (2006, 2012, and 2017), but in each of those CCIW campaigns they drew a tie or two. As for today's game itself, there were no big surprises, other than the fact that Augie actually managed to score. It marks the first time that Augustana has put one in the back of the net against NPU in seven years.

* * *

CCIW tourney semifinals, Wednesday night:
#3 Illinois Wesleyan (6-8-1, 5-3) @ #2 North Central (16-1-1, 6-1-1)
#4 Wheaton (9-6-1, 4-3-1) @ #1 North Park (13-4, 8-0)

CCIW tourney finals, Saturday night
lowest remaining seed @ highest remaining seed