BOXSCORE

Wheaton, Ill. (8/31) – The Wheaton women's soccer team opened defense of its 2006 NCAA Division III Championship with a 4-1 win against Loras University on Friday in the first-match of the season-opening Bob Baptista Invitational. Friday's other match saw Westmont College defeat #23-ranked DePauw University 2-0. Wheaton will host Westmont on Saturday at 4:30 PM and Loras will take on DePauw at 11:30 AM in the final day of the tournament.

In the 4-1 Thunder victory against Loras, Thunder sophomore Maria Della Torre (PICTURED) gave the hosts a 1-0 lead when she scored on a pass from freshman Shannon Wilkes 19:45 into the match. Della Torre increased the Thunder lead to 2-0, 36:26 into the match when she scored off of a crossing pass by junior Kari Klynstra .

Senior captain Sarah Richardson increased Wheaton's lead to 3-0, shortly after halftime, when she scored off of a Lauren Lindner assist. Loras' Katie Ryan put the Duhawks on the scoreboard 52:19 into the match when she scored off of a free kick. Wheaton secured the 4-1 lead that would become the final score when Richardson scored as the result of a Kira Davis assist.

Wheaton out-shot Loras 18-7 and held a 2-1 edge in corner kicks. Loras goalkeeper Torey Murray made six saves and allowed one goal. Wheaton netminder Kristin Eggert recorded one save and allowed one goal.