North Park's matchup with visiting Wheaton College Saturday night had everything you could ask for in a regular season conference championship game.

Despite the chilly temperatures, the Holmgren Athletic Complex was a near sellout as the contest definitely lived up to its billing.

Both teams played solid defense, created key opportunities for their respective sides and respected each other as opponents as only three yellow cards were issued.

It would be Wheaton that ended up pulling out the victory though as Stephen Golz put away the game-winning tally on a rather bizarre shot off the left side to give the visiting Thunder a 1-0 triumph over North Park for its 19th regular season conference title, and the third-straight for Thunder.

With the victory, Wheaton earned the top-seed in next week's CCIW postseason tournament and will host No. 4 seed Millikin Nov. 5 while the Vikings earned the No. 2 seed and will host Elmhurst College on the same evening. NP will be making its 10th appearance in the tournament.

Golz' game-winning goal came in the 77th minute when he played a through ball on a Noah Anthony assist. Golz worked tapped the ball up the left end line and in to the bottom left of frame after he drew the defense out of the goal mouth to open up the spacing.

Three of North Park's 16 total shots were on goal with Carl Damberg generating one and Markus Fodstad two. Keeper Wesley Woodley made two saves.

At halftime of the match, the North Park University soccer family recognized seniors Edmond Fischer, Brian Tomuta, Iain Chester, Damberg, Christoffer Ostberg, Johan Gustafsson, Juan Hincapie, Dominik Wardzala, Felipe Matter, Josue Villacis, Fredrik Greiff and Fodstad for the hard work and dedication they've given to the program in their time as student-athletes.

North Park finishes the regular season with a 13-5 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the CCIW.