By Tony Koziol
November 3, 2009
In just their sixth season as a soccer program, the Elmhurst College men’s soccer team clinched their first CCIW Championship after finishing in a 1-1 tie in double overtime against Wheaton College on Oct. 23. The tie allowed the Bluejays to finish unbeaten in conference play with a 5-0-2 CCIW record.
Head coach Dave Di Tomasso was satisfied with the team’s accomplishment.
“Winning the CCIW Conference Championship means the world to everyone involved,” Di Tomasso said in an e-mail interview. “Our guys knew our team was special this year, but finding your way during a season is a difficult thing to do. The players are great and they deserve this wonderful accomplishment.”
Di Tomasso noted the advancement of the program.
“We set out to win the title as quickly as possible since the program’s inception in 2004. I credit all the players before this team for setting the standard and creating a competitive culture.”
By winning the conference title, the Bluejays will be the top seed in the upcoming CCIW Tournament and will have home field advantage.
“Having the [No. 1] seed in the CCIW Tournament is a nice feeling,” said Di Tomasso. “Playing on our home field is very important to us and to Elmhurst College.”
Wheaton scored a goal in the 14th minute to take an early 1-0 lead. Wheaton held it’s led going into half-time.
Early in the second-half, the Bluejays tied the game when sophomore Keith Thurman’s shot was deflected by a Wheaton defender and rolled into the net.
The score remained tied at the end of regulation, forcing overtime. However, neither team could score in two overtimes.
The Bluejays did not get off a shot in either of the overtimes. Junior Sebastian Domczewski recorded six saves for the Bluejays and allowed just one goal in six periods.
Domczewski’s performance against Wheaton, along with a shutout he recorded against Lake Forest College, helped him receive CCIW Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Di Tomasso pointed out that ties are not going to be an option during the CCIW Tournament.
“Our guys played fantastic against Wheaton. We were resilient, and played with passion and intensity. I could not be more pleased with their effort,” Di Tomasso said. “With that said we have to win to move on in the near future so we want to do a better job of finishing our opportunities and winning the match.”
Although the Bluejays managed to tie Wheaton, they were unable to defeat them. But Di Tomasso is not worried about the possibility of facing Wheaton again in the CCIW tournament.
“We welcome playing Wheaton or anyone else for that matter, anytime, anywhere, and any place,” Di Tomasso said.
In their last eight games of the regular season the Bluejays finished 6-0-2.
The Bluejays recorded a 4-0 win against Lake Forest, on Oct. 21, previous to their game against Wheaton and a 4-2 win over Saint Norbert College on Oct. 27.
With the regular season over the team’s focus now turns to the CCIW Tournament. Di Tomasso commented that being the top seed has not changed the team’s preparation for the tournament.
“The team is preparing the way it has all year, by being disciplined, practicing hard, and having an attention to detail,” Di Tomasso said. “We look forward to the challenges ahead.”
The Bluejays will compete in a home semi-finals CCIW Tournament match on Wednesday Nov. 4.