CHICAGO, Ill. - The Elmhurst College men's soccer team has advanced to the CCIW Tournament Championship after playing North Park University to a 1-1 tie and advancing past the Vikings on a penalty kick shootout. 

Elmhurst (12-4-4) struck first, scoring late in the first half to take a 1-0 lead. Christian Mullin headed home a Jeff Kading free kick with just 10 seconds left in the half to put the Bluejays in front.

Elmhurst outshot North Park 8-3 in the opening half, but the Vikings came back with a strong showing in the second period, taking advantage of five corner kick to total eight shots in the half. The Vikings scored the equalizer in the 71st minute when John Gustafsson knocked home a free kick from Fredrik Greiff to knot the score at 1-1.
 

Neither team could find the back of the net in either of the two 10-minute overtime periods, sending the contest into a shootout to determine advancement in the CCIW Tournament. 

With the Vikings shooting first, all five of Elmhurst's and North Park's shooters found the back of the net. Fredrik Greiff, Stany Lokamba, Kebba Sanyang, Diego Lashlee and Dominik Wardzala all converted their attempt only to have Elmhurst answer with scores from Mullin, Michael Delong, Josh Rudd, Kading and Brett Stiffler.

North Park kept the pressure on in the sixth round as Markus Fodstad converted his attempt, but Andrew Witzofsky calmly buried his shot to send the shootout to a seventh round.
 

Elmhurst keeper John Reglin delivered the big blow for the Bluejays, diving to his right to save Nathan Paisley's shot at the start of the seventh round of the shootout. With a chance to send the Bluejays into the CCIW Tournament Final, Brad Yarwood stepped to the line and fired his shot into the upper right corner of the net, securing the advancement for the Bluejays.

Elmhurst finished the contest outshooting North Park 19-13 while the Vikings had a 7-5 edge in corner kicks.

Reglin recorded one save in regulation for the Bluejays while North Park keeper Wesley Woodley stopped five shots for the Vikings.

Elmhurst will travel to top-seeded Wheaton College to face the Thunder in the CCIW Tournament Championship on Saturday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. The winner of the match will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.