BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The third-seeded Carroll University women's soccer team played second-seeded Illinois Wesleyan University to a 1-1 stalemate through 90 minutes of regulation and two, 10-minute overtime periods but lost in a shootout 4-3 during the semifinals of the College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin Tournament at Neis Field on Thursday afternoon.
With the dramatic outcome, Illinois Wesleyan advanced to face top-seeded Wheaton College in the finals Saturday at 7 p.m.
It will be a battle of this year's league co-champions, who both finished with 7-1 records.
Wheaton defeated fourth-seeded North Central 4-0 in a semifinal played Wednesday.
Senior forward Skyler Tomko scored the first goal of the contest off an assist from senior  forward/midfielder Alison Seger in the 28th minute for Illinois Wesleyan, which improved to 11-5-3 overall.
Carroll, 14-4-2 overall,  answered at the 57:35 mark when sophomore forward Rachel Van Sluys (Sheboygan, Wis.) scored her eighth goal of the season on a header off an assist from sophomore forward/midfielder Delaney Pruitt (Ringwood, Ill.).
Tomko, junior midfielder Rachel Westerkamp, freshman forward Flower Edington and freshman defender Shannon Gatehouse each converted a penalty kick in the shootout for Illinois Wesleyan, which outshot the Pioneers 19-15 - including a critical 9-7 shot-on-goal advantage.
Pruitt, senior forward Casey Weyhrich (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and sophomore defender Gina LaMacchia (Mequon, Wis.) each made a penalty kick during the shootout for Carroll, which came into the contest ranked No. 6 in the Central Region of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division III poll.
Freshman goalkeeper Christina O' Block (Libertyville, Ill.) made eight saves for the Pioneers, who had 11 shutouts during the regular season.