Wheaton College Athletics

Wheaton won its third NCAA Division III National Championship in four seasons in 2007. The Thunder won the title in style with a 27-0 overall record for the year, a Division III record for wins in a single season that still stands 10 years later. Wheaton's unblemished record was part of the program's 48-match win-streak from September 26, 2006 until September 13, 2008 that is the second-longest win-streak in Division III history.
 

Wheaton out-scored non-conference opponents 44-8 in the regular season, including shutout victories against nationally ranked foes Calvin, Kenyon, St. Benedict and Washington University (Mo.). The Thunder posted a 7-0 record in CCIW play in 2007 to secure the program's 13^th-consecutive CCIW Championship. Sophomore Taryne Lee was honored as the CCIW "Player of the Year" and Pete Felske (PICTURED LEFT) was recognized as the CCIW "Coach of the Year.
 
Wheaton received a first-round bye in the NCAA Division III Tournament and opened postseason play with a resounding 7-1 victory against St. Scholastica. The one goal against the Saints at Bean Stadium was the only goal allowed by Wheaton in the tournament that year as the Thunder out-scored its postseason opposition 17-1 over five matches.
  Wheaton hosted a NCAA Sectional for the tournament's second weekend. The Thunder defeated longtime rival UW-Stevens Point 4-0 in the opening match of the weekend. Wheaton faced University of Puget Sound in the Sectional Final. The matchup was Wheaton's first contest against the Loggers since the Thunder defeated Puget Sound in the Championship Match of the 2004 Division III Championship Match to win the program's first National Championship. Kira Davis and Erin Hodina each scored a goal for the Thunder to send Wheaton to the 2007 National Semifinals in Orlando, Florida.
 
Wheaton faced Western Connecticut State in the National Semifinal. The two teams played a scoreless match for the majority of the first half. In the 34^th minute, Sarah Richardson's shot deflected off the Western Connecticut goalkeeper's hands and the ball was collected by Thunder senior Libby Passiales who scored the go-ahead goal. The Thunder maintained the 1-0 lead for much of the game, until Lee and Jami Herrmann, each scored a goal in the final 10 minutes of the match to send Wheaton to the National Championship Match with a 3-0 win in the semifinal.

The highly anticipated National Championship Match featured the top-ranked Thunder and the No. 2-ranked Messiah College Falcons. Wheaton led Messiah 1-0 at halftime thanks to a goal by Herrman at the 42:50 mark of the match. Herrmann collected a loose ball and bended the ball past the Messiah goalkeeper for the key score. The Wheaton defense continued to keep the Falcons off the scoreboard, highlighted by a diving save by goalkeeper Kristin Eggert on a terrific Messiah scoring opportunity in the final five minutes of the match. Wheaton emerged with the 1-0 victory and its third Division III Championship.

  Senior Bethany Barton was named the "Most Outstanding Defensive Player" of the Division III Tournament for the second-consecutive year and midfielder Kari Klynstra was named the tournament's "Most Outstanding Offensive Player". Kelly Foltz and Eggert earned All-Tournament selection for their respective postseason performances.

  Lee scored a school-record 27 goals in 2007 as she earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III Player of the Year award. Lee, Barton and Kira Davis each earned All-America recognition for the Thunder. Felske was named the NSCAA Division III Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.

Sarah Richardson scored 19 goals and distributed a school-record 21 assists. Richardson was honored as the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in the College Division for women's soccer. She also earned the CCIW's "Woman of the Year" award.

Passiales scored 11 goals with 11 assists and Brittany Bergh contributed nine goals with eight assists. Davis scored seven goals, including four in the postseason, and she added five assists. Klynstra scored five goals with eight assists and Maria Della Torre tallied sig goals with three assists.
 
The Thunder out-scored opponents 105-13 for the season. Eggert, Davis and Barton keyed a tremendous Wheaton defense that registered 17 shutouts. Eggert recorded a 0.45 goals against average in 2,003 minutes in the net for the year.

No.      Player                            
00       Justine Morey                
01       Ingrid Erickson               
  0       Allison Ippel                    
  1       Kristin Eggert               
  2       Libby Passiales            
  3       Jami Herrmann               
  4       Sarah Moore                   
  5       Melinda Lowry               
  6       Brittany Bergh               
  7       Bethany Barton     
  8       Kari Klynstra             
  9       Maria Della Torre      
10       Erin Hodina               
11       Lauren Lindner       
12       Kelly Foltz                 
13       Elizabeth Fazio  
14       Rebecca Oliver       
15       Elise Jakoby   
16       Taryne Lee      
17       Hailey Partain        
18       Sarah Richardson  
19       Alyson Webster      
20       Lauren Moser     
21       Katie Drevets     
22       Kira Davis        
23       Caleigh Bates   
24       Mary Beth Grove  
25       Shannon Wilkes