Contact: Tyler Friel, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Oct. 31, 2016 – Despite falling to Illinois Wesleyan last Saturday, the North Central College women's soccer team found their way into the conference tournament for just the second time in program history.

Entering the final game of the season, the Cardinals sat in a tie for fourth in the conference standings with Carthage College. North Central would earn a CCIW bid with a win at Illinois Wesleyan or a Carthage loss to Augustana. The Cardinals would fall 3-0 to the Titans but Carthage would lose to the Vikings, allowing the Cardinals to become the fourth seed due to North Central owning the tiebreaker against Carthage.

North Central finished with a 5-10-2 overall record but a 4-4 conference record, the most wins in program history. Andrew Gamarra led the Cardinals to the conference tourney in just his first year as North Central's head coach and first time since 2012.

Taylor Markanich leads the Cardinals with four goals on the season followed by Jessica DeJong with three. Noelia Reyes adds two and five other Cardinals have logged a goal on the season.

Goalkeeper Nicki Seiton finished the season with 76 saves, second most in the conference. Her four shutouts on the year was good for fifth in the CCIW.

The Cardinals will face regular season co-champion and No. #1 seed Wheaton College in the first round of the tournament on November 2 at 7 pm. Illinois Wesleyan will host Carroll University. The Cardinals were defeated by the Thunder 2-0 on October 22.

Wednesday's semifinal winners will face off in the tournament championship on Saturday at the highest remaining seed. Saturday's winner will earn the CCIW's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship.