After earning their first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament, the women’s soccer team has made a statement.

After falling to UW-Oshkosh in the WIAC Championship game last weekend, the Warhawks have now advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Division-III National Tournament after defeating Aurora University 2-0 and Wartburg College in a shootout after a 1-1 draw.

The ’Hawks will now face Wheaton College (Ill.) at 5 p.m. Friday in Wheaton.

“It’s pretty awesome,” senior Emily Gerber said. “This has never happened in womens soccer here so it definitely is an amazing feeling.”

In the first game against the Spartans, the ’Hawks saw two freshmen that stepped up big to supply the scoring. Gerber said the team gelled together, setting each other up.

“Everybody played well that game and it was a team effort,” Gerber said. “Everybody put themselves in the right position.”

Freshman Riley Kirchoff scored the first goal for the ’Hawks in the 31st minute and then later in the 53rd, Caitlyn Fritsch scored her second goal of the season.

The ’Hawks dominated with 13 shots compared to the Spartans five.

In the next game, it seemed as if the Knights had the game locked up. They outshot the ’Hawks 20-7 and scored first in the 51st minute. In the second half, the ’Hawks managed to only have two shots but made it count in the 73rd minute on a goal by senior Pamela Lisowe.

“In general it was a pretty good game,” Gerber said about the matchup with Wartburg. “It was pretty even especially playing a game after a game.”

After a scoreless overtime period, the game went into a shootout. Unlike the WIAC Championship game, the ’Hawks won 6-5 after Wartburg missed their final shot.

“Considering we got beat by UW-Oshkosh by that, it made the situation even better,” Gerber said. “Under the circumstances of playing a game after a game and being exhausted and having all of your parents and family there, it was just amazing.”

For Gerber, coming to the NCAA Tournament is a great way to end her amazing career, but she is more focused on winning the next game.

“It’s been a great experience, a great road, but I don’t want to say it’s going to be done,” Gerber said. “In our mind we believe we can go further.”