EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The Wheaton College Thunder and the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds played in a closely contested battle in today's NCAA Women's Soccer Regional second round game at the Bollinger Fields, but Wheaton prevailed after winning a shootout 3-1.

Wheaton now moves on to NCAA Sectional play with a 19-3-2 overall record, while Eau Claire ended its season with an 18-2-4 record. Despite the fact Wheaton moves on, the game goes down in the record books as a tie. Earlier this season the two teams also finished with a 2-2 tie in Wheaton. The Thunder hold the all-time series against Eau Claire at 8-0-2. This was the first season the Blugolds did not fall to the Thunder in postseason play, as Eau Claire lost to Wheaton in both 2005 and 2006.

While the score remained 0-0 through the entire 110 minutes of play, Wheaton controlled most of the way. During regulation, Wheaton was able to keep the ball on Eau Claire's end a majority of the time. The Thunder ended regulation outshooting the Blugolds 19-4. In the first overtime the game was pretty even and both teams ended with one shot. In the second overtime, Eau Claire controlled the first part of the period but Wheaton finished the period in control and ended with six shots to Eau Claire's two. For the game, Wheaton outshot Eau Claire 26-7, putting 12 on-goal to Eau Claire's three.

The game then went into the shootout period. The Blugolds' Liz Kooistra (Sr.-Lakeville, Minn.) kicked off the shootout making the goal. Wheaton then made one and Allie Rivard (Sr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) took the second shot for Eau Claire but it was blocked by the goalkeeper. Wheaton's Ali Kopelman scored next and Allison Muer (Sr.-Minneapolis, Minn./South) missed for the Blugolds. On the next kick, Taryne Lee of Wheaton made it. Amy Smith (Sr.-Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson) then came up for Eau Claire and the Wheaton goalie tipped the kick wide to allow the Thunder to move on.

For the day in goal, Wheaton's Ingrid Erickson made three saves while Eau Claire's Rivard made 12. Wheaton also edged the Blugolds in corner kicks 7-5.

Eau Claire-Wheaton Box Score

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