The women’s soccer team ended its NCAA Tournament run Friday, falling 4-1 to Wheaton College in the Sweet 16.

Regardless of the loss, the Warhawks made history this season.

After falling in the WIAC Championship game, they earned their first-ever bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Head coach Greg Henschel said he was proud of the team this season, especially after coming up short a season ago of earning a bid into the tournament.

“It’s obviously a lot of fun.,” Henschel said. “From a historical standpoint I try to appreciate every moment of it and I think the girls did too. They brought themselves to the NCAA Touranment, they have worked really hard from last season to this, so it was a lot more about them getting to the tournament than anything our coaching staff did.”

After a slow start to the season, including an injury to junior Christina Tooren, things were not looking good. In their last eight games of the regular season, they turned things up, going 8-0 while winning the WIAC regular season title.

Henschel said he was impressed with how the team really turned it on late in the season.

“It was a great season and there were a lot of struggles,” Henschel said. “For me, it was fun to watch our team engage in that struggle.”

Although the tournament run was good for the whole team and for the school, Henschel said he was happy for the seniors on the team who got to be part of the history after working so hard.

“By just watching them, it appeared that they have had a lot of pride in what they have achieved, and they should,” Henschel said. “It was a lot of fun to be a part of and to see them have that pride.”