Wheaton Men’s Soccer Earns NCAA Bid With 3-0 CCIW Tournament Victory

WHEATON, Ill. -- Behind two goals from Strider Elass and one from Steve Rigby, the Wheaton Thunder picked up a 3-0 victory over Augustana in the championship game of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Men’s Soccer Tournament Saturday.

With the win, the Thunder earned the CCIW’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament. Pairings will be announced by the NCAA on Monday, Nov. 6.

Under the new format adopted by the CCIW soccer coaches for the 2006 season, the winner of the CCIW Tournament earns the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament instead of the regular season champion as was the case in past years.

Rigby got the Thunder on the board in the third minute when he scored on assists from Jonathan Liechty and Ben Theimer. Liechty and Rigby assisted on Elass’ first goal in the 71st minute, while Ryan Souder kicked the ball the length of the field and assisted Elass’ second goal in the 87th minute.

Souders had five saves for Wheaton, while Augustana goalkeeper Michael Dolan also had five saves.