After a 2-0 loss to the University of Chicago, the Wheaton Women’s soccer team concluded the 2017-18 college soccer season.
“They dominated the game,” junior midfielder Maddie Peebles said.
UChicago really did dominate the field statistically, but Wheaton played a physical game in the brisk and windy November weather. UChicago had 15 shots and six shots on goal, but Wheaton only had one shot on goal during the whole game. UChicago had 12 corner kicks while Wheaton only had two. At every statistic, UChicago bested Wheaton.
“U Chicago was the better team,” Peebles said. “I think we could all see that. We went into it knowing that we’d have to work as hard as we could, but, at the end of it, they were just better.” UChicago has now advanced to the final four of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Division III tournament, and they will play the 21-0-1 College of New Jersey women’s soccer team on Friday, Dec. 1 at 11:00 a.m. Wheaton’s consistent scorer Izzy Oliver did not play against UChicago due to illness.
“We can keep improving by playing faster and getting more confident,” Peebles said. Peebles and Oliver were both named to the 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region First Team, and senior star defender Sarah Van Wingerden was named to the Second Team.
“This season our team was really cohesive on-and-off the field, so it made the season really enjoyable,” Peebles said. “Everyone came in really committed to what we were doing and that helped us continue to work hard and get better.”
Wheaton had four seniors on its team this season, including starting goalkeeper Kathryn McGregor who will not return for the 2018-19 season. For the returning players, the Record will report about Wheaton Women’s soccer starting in the fall of 2018.