NAPERVILLE --- The CCIW women’s soccer season is in full swing, with several teams and players making early waves. Illinois Wesleyan’s Liza Wiley and North Central’s Lily Mattison earned this week’s Student-Athlete of the Week honors for their standout offensive and defensive performances. Elmhurst continues to dominate with a high-powered offense and stout defense, while Illinois Wesleyan, Carroll, and Augustana all extend winning streaks or notch first victories.
 
CCIW STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Illinois Wesleyan’s Liza Wiley (Offensive) and North Central’s Lily Mattison (Defensive) were recognized as the CCIW Student-Athletes of the Week, announced Tuesday.
 
Wiley tallied six points in two IWU victories last week. She scored the Titans’ first goal in the 29th minute of a 5-1 win over Monmouth last Wednesday, Sept. 10. She also assisted on a pair of second-half goals in the win. The sophomore forward also hit the back of the net in the sixth minute of Sunday’s match at Wartburg, setting the tone for IWU’s 2-1 win.
 
Mattison, a sophomore from Eden Prairie, Minn., stacked up 18 saves while posting 0.50 goals-against average and a .947 saves percentage in two starts against strong competition last week. She was a shutout winner in the full 90 minutes last Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Calvin, facing 17 shots and making four saves. In last Friday’s matchup with top-ranked WashU, Mattison had a career-high 14 saves.
 
DEFENSE AND FIREPOWER FUEL ELMHURST’S HOT START
Elmhurst is 6-1-1 overall this season and riding a four-match unbeaten streak (3-0-1) since Sept. 9. The Bluejays won back-to-back home matches last Saturday, 4-0 over Great Lakes Christian, and last Wednesday, 1-0 over Kalamazoo.
 
Elmhurst holds the top defensive ranking in the conference, leading the CCIW with a goals-against average of 0.63 through eight games played. This stellar defense has contributed to the team ranking first in total shutouts, recording six clean sheets … Elmhurst also boasts the CCIW's most prolific offense, scoring 23 goals in its first eight games.
 
Kelli Coughlin is the CCIW leader in total shots (30) and shots per game (3.75). She’s also second in the conference with 14 points, including two separate multiple-point performances … Lauren Nevins is tied for first in total goals with five through eight games played, averaging 0.63 goals per game.
 
Goalkeeper Erin Fitzharris is second in the CCIW with a 0.84 GAA across seven games played. She has three shutouts, tying for the league lead … Maddie Cummings scored the only goal in the 1-0 victory, capitalizing on a setup from Coughlin in the seventh minute of the match. She also contributed a goal and an assist in the team's 4-0 win over Great Lake Christian.
 
The Bluejays will be in Michigan Saturday for a 3 p.m. CT kickoff at Olivet.
 
TITANS CHARGE INTO FOUR-MATCH WIN STREAK
Since dropping the first two matches of the season, Illinois Wesleyan has ripped off four consecutive wins since Sept. 6 for a 4-2-0 record. The Titans were a 2-1 winner at Wartburg last Sunday, then romped past Westminster on Wednesday, 6 p.m.
 
Illinois Wesleyan leads the CCIW in assists per game, averaging 2.33 across their six matches played.
 
Liza Wiley leads all players in the CCIW in points per game (1.83) and total assists (5). She has three multiple-point games – most among all players in the league … Sophie Lampert is tied for the fourth-most goals in the CCIW with three and ranks fifth in the conference for points per game (1.17). In the 4-1 victory against Westminster, she scored a key second-half goal.
 
Kayley Carew provided the assist for Wiley's opening goal in the 2-1 win over Wartburg and also assisted Emily Kunzer's late goal against Westminster … Keira Robinson assisted on Lampert's goal against Wartburg, then followed up by scoring her first goal of the season against Westminster, a shot that put the Titans up 1-0.
 
IWU will try for its fifth straight win Saturday at Trine at 11 a.m. CT.
 
PIONEERS EXTEND UNBEATEN STREAK TO FIVE
Carroll’s unbeaten stretch has reached five matches (2-0-3) since Sept. 2. The Pioneers played to a 1-1 draw last Saturday on the road at Marian, then notched a 3-0 shutout win over Beloit last Monday.
 
Carmella Nowak is Carroll's leading offensive contributor, ranking first in the CCIW in goals per game (0.80) and third in points per game (1.60). She scored unassisted in the 10th minute against Beloit and converted a penalty kick for the Pioneers' only score against Marian (9/13) … Goalkeeper Nevaeh Darby was clutch in CU's 3-0 victory against Beloit, playing the full 90 minutes and earning a shutout with six saves.
 
Ellie Patrickus contributed in the win over Beloit, scoring her second goal of the season just 39 seconds after the Pioneers’ first strike to make the score 2-0 … Brielle Ingalsbee has 125 career shot attempts – second-most among active CCIW players.
 
The Pioneers return to Schneider Stadium next Tuesday to host Wisconsin-Platteville at 7 p.m.
 
THUNDER SEEK MOMENTUM AT ST. MARY’S FRIDAY
After opening the campaign with one goal allowed in its first four matches, Wheaton will try to get back on track after falling in consecutive 3-0 decisions to DePauw last Saturday and Hope last Tuesday.
 
Wheaton ranks tied for second in the CCIW with three total shutouts … The Thunder rank fourth overall in the CCIW for corner kicks, having earned 29 corner opportunities.
 
Goalkeeper Leah Roe is tied for the league lead in total shutouts, recording three clean sheets across her seven appearances this season. Roe has also recorded 25 total saves, ranking her fifth in the CCIW with an average of 3.57 saves per game … Grace Crowder is tied for sixth in the CCIW in assists per game with 0.29.
 
Friday night brings a road trip to Notre Dame, Ind. for the Thunder. WC will take on St. Mary’s at 5 p.m. CT.
 
JONES, DOMINGUEZ POWER BIG BLUE OFFENSE
Millikin is 3-3-1 in 2025 and will play the final contest of a three-match homestand on Sunday when Illinois College travels to Decatur for a 3 p.m. start. The Big Blue will be aiming to halt a three-match skid after losses to Wisconsin-La Crosse and Trine last week.
 
Millikin is tied for second in the CCIW for total goals scored with 15 and third overall in goals per game at 2.14. This mark makes MU third in the conference in total points (39) and points per game (5.57) … The Big Blue defense has been active in goal with 44. The 6.29 saves per match are second among league squads.
 
Izzy Jones has been an offensive threat, tied for fourth in the CCIW with three total goals and tied for sixth overall with eight points … Melis Barutcu converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute against Trine on Wednesday, her first goal of the season. In that same match, she led the team with two shots on goal.
 
Payton Dominguez is tied for fourth in the CCIW in total assists with three (0.43 per game) … Madalyn Everly had seven saves in the first half against Wisconsin-La Crosse last Saturday.
 
NCC DEFENSE AMONG CCIW’S TOUGHEST UNITS
North Central’s record is even at 3-3-0 after dropping a tight 1-0 decision to top-ranked WashU last Friday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville.
 
The Cardinals own the second-lowest goals-against average in the league, conceding only five goals overall and 0.83 per game … NCC leads the conference in corner kick average, generating 33 total corners across six matches (5.50 per game).
.
Lily Mattison leads the CCIW in individual save percentage (.865) and holds the top rank in shutouts per game (0.50). Mattison recorded a career-high 14 saves, including 11 in the first half, in last week’s bout with WashU … Jordan Lange has powered the NCC offense, ranking ninth in the CCIW in shots per game (2.17). She is the active career leader in the CCIW for total points (68), goals (25), and assists (18).
 
Following a full week away from competition, NCC will begin a two-match road trip Friday night at 6 p.m. versus Centre in Danville, Ky.
 
CARTHAGE BLANKS WLC FOR THIRD WIN OF SEASON
Carthage logged its third win of the campaign last Saturday, blanking Wisconsin Lutheran in Kenosha, 3-0. The Firebirds suffered a 5-1 loss at Lake Forest on Wednesday and 3-4-1 overall in 2025.
 
Ainsley Stallworth is tied for second in the CCIW for total shutouts this season, having recorded three in seven appearances. She has also registered 33 total saves, ranking her third among conference keepers with a save percentage of .805 … Ashley Gorder scored in both recent matches, netting her first goal of the season via an unassisted free kick in the win over Wisconsin Lutheran. She followed up that performance by scoring the only Carthage goal in the 5-1 loss to Lake Forest – her second goal of the season.
 
Malie Cassel ignited the scoring in the 3-0 victory against WLC by finding the back of the net in the sixth minute after receiving a pass from Peyton Olinski. She tallied three shots in the win with two shots on goal … Emma Amberg is tied for the Carthage lead in total assists this season, having registered two assists across eight games played.
 
The Firebirds will host Knox Saturday at 1 p.m. at Art Keller Field.
 
NORTH PARK STRONG AT HOME WITH 3-1 RECORD
North Park has claimed victories in two of its last three contests, including a 2-1 win over Augsburg last Saturday in Chicago. The Vikings are 3-4-0 this fall, including a 3-1-0 mark at home.
 
Caroline Sjøstedt has been consistent for NPU, ranking second overall in the CCIW for both total shots (25) and shots per game (3.57). In the victory over Augsburg, her late shot created the rebound opportunity that resulted in the Vikings' game-winning goal … Julia Önnerheim is the team’s top goal-scorer, tied for fourth in the CCIW with three total goals through seven games (0.43 goals per game).
 
Goalkeeper MacRitchie is among the leaders in conference saves, ranking second in the CCIW with 39 total saves and 5.57 saves per game. She was vital in the win over Augsburg, where she recorded four crucial saves across 90 minutes to hold the lead … Maja Applequist secured the team's victory against Augsburg by scoring the game-winning goal in the 87th minute.
 
The Vikings will host Lake Forest Saturday at 2 p.m., their fourth game in a stretch of five straight at home.
 
VIKINGS SECURE FIRST WINS WITH BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS
Augustana hit the win column in 2025 with back-to-back shutouts last weekend. The Vikings took down Cornell on the road last Friday, 3-0, then clipped Nebraska Wesleyan 1-0 in a neutral-site match in Mount Vernon. Augie is 2-4-1 overall.
 
The Vikings lead the CCIW in total saves with 45. Augie is also second in the conference in save percentage at .816.
 
Skylar Swanson is the team leader in both goals (3) and assists (2) for a total of eight points through seven games, ranking her sixth in the CCIW in total points. She scored the game-winning goal against Nebraska Wesleyan … Sara Schinker is tied for the conference lead with three individual shutouts in seven appearances. She currently holds the second-highest save percentage in the CCIW (.816) and leads the conference in total saves (40) with 5.71 saves per game.
 
Alyssa Mowry was a star in the victory over Cornell, scoring her first goal of the season in the first half to put the Vikings up 2-0. She also registered a shot on goal in the win against Nebraska Wesleyan … Ximena Osorio-Rodriguez recorded her second goal of the campaign in the win over Cornell, capitalizing on a pass from Swanson in the 62nd minute. She logged five shots in the Cornell match and two more against NWU.
 
Augie will play its first match at home since Sept. 9 when Ripon visits Thorson-Lucken Field next Tuesday at 5 p.m.