Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302
 
Nov. 8, 2025 – Despite cold and slick conditions the North Central College women's soccer team (15-5, 8-0 CCIW) prevailed in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament Championship, defeating North Park University (10-9,6-2 CCIW) in a 4-0 shutout to secure the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. It marks the Cardinals third straight CCIW Tournament Championship and its first sweep of the league's regular season and tournament titles since 2023.
 
The Cardinals become the first CCIW program since 2015 to win three straight women's soccer tournament titles. North Central goalkeeper Lily Mattison broke the program's career shutout record in today's contest as she notched her 17^th total shutout and 10^th this season. It took the sophomore just two seasons to break the program record. Mattison was also honored prior to the contest as a CCIW Elite 26 Award recipient. The CCIW Elite 26 Award is presented to the student-athlete competing in the CCIW Championship match with the highest grade-point average.
 
North Park controlled the possession through the first 10 minutes of the contest but it did not take long for North Central to gain control and start producing shot opportunities. Jordan Lange took an early shot to the top of goal that was narrowly deflected by the Vikings keeper. Unable to corral the ball, North Central was granted back-to-back corners but was unable to put away the ensuing shots.
 
Not long after though, Kara Waishwell pulled the ball out to the left side of the box before drilling a pass into Lucy Burk, who buried a goal to the left side, putting North Central on the board in the 19^th minute.
 
With another corner kick opportunity, the Cardinals looked to Lange to make the entry. Senior defender Kassandra Salviola managed to get a head on it but the Vikings' keeper was there for the deflection but could not control the ball. Gabriella Mattio was there for the shot off the rebound, scoring her ninth goal of the season for North Central's 2-0 lead in the 23^rd minute.
 
Just over a minute later, the Cardinals scored on another set piece as Madison DeVriendt serviced the corner kick into Salviola. This time, with North Park's keeper out of position and the Vikings defender unable to make the back save, Salviola scored her fourth goal of the season to put the Cardinals up by three in the 25^th minute.
 
North Central's defense did not allow a shot for the Vikings until the 25^th minute, a big boot that missed high left. With the Cardinals settling In with a comfortable lead, North Park was only allotted five shots for the rest of the half.
 
Out of the break, North Park put on an aggressive front, drawing a corner kick just 51 seconds in but the Cardinals thwarted the scoring opportunity.
 
In the 47^th minute, Lange took matters into her own hands, changing director atop the 18-yard box to create separation from her defenders, taking a strike to the bottom right for the Cardinals fourth goal of the match.
 
Down by four, the Vikings battled through the second half taking 11 more shots but came up short. North Park's closest opportunities came with back-to-back shots in the 78^th minute that hit the crossbar as the Vikings were unable to execute.
 
North Central out-shot the Vikings 27-16 while doubling corner kick opportunities, 6-3. North Park's keeper Paige MacRitchie totaled 12 saves while Mattison recorded three. Salviola and Lange each notched a goal and an assist in the win while Burk and Mattio had the other two goals. Waishwell and DeVriendt each tallied an assist.
 
North Central's victory secured the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament as the Cardinals prepare to make their third NCAA appearance. North Central will find out its NCAA path on Monday, Nov. 10 during the women's soccer selection show at 11 a.m. ET.