PICTURED ABOVE: Kristin Rauh (LEFT) scored Wheaton's first goal tonight and Sydney Sharkey (RIGHT) tallied two assists.

Wheaton, Ill.  – The Thunder women's soccer team defeated University of Chicago 3-0 on Thursday night in a critical non-conference matchup at Joe Bean Stadium. Wheaton is now 13-1-2 on the year and is ranked seventh in the current NSCAA Division III Coaches Poll. Chicago falls to 11-3-1 for the season and is ranked 12th in the Division III Coaches Poll.

Both teams came into tonight's match ranked as the top two teams in the first NCAA Central Region rankings of 2014. The regional rankings are key factor in determining teams for the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament, as well as their placement and seeding in the tournament. Chicago was the top-ranked team in the Central Region ranking and Wheaton was ranked second when the poll was released on Monday.

Junior Kristin Rauh put Wheaton on the scoreboard with her sixth goal of the season in the 13th minute. Rauh headed the ball into the net with an assist from Sydney Sharkey for a 1-0 Thunder lead. Sydney Sharkey assisted from the left top corner of the 18-yard box and passed off to Anna Seabolt (PICTURED LEFT) for Wheaton's second goal of the night. The Seabolt goal in the 35th minute gave Wheaton a 2-0 lead that the hosts held at halftime. Wheaton controlled the pace of the match for the first half as the Thunder out-shot the Maroons 12-6 in the first 45 minutes of the match.

Junior Ally Witt (PICTURED RIGHT) scored her team-best 10th goal of the season in the 61st minute. Witt's goal increased Wheaton's lead to 3-0. The Maroons had more opportunities in the second half as the guests had a 10-6 advantage in shots in the half, including a 4-2 edge in shots on goal.

Thunder goalkeeper Kelsey Graham (PICTURED LEFT) made nine saves as she and the Thunder defensive unit posted a shutout against the Maroons. Tonight's outing was only the third time this season the Maroons have been shut out in 15 matches. Mallory Morse played the first half in net for Chicago, making five saves with one goal allowed. Jacinda Reid played the final 45 minutes, with one save and one goal allowed.

Note Worthy: Witt's goal tonight gives her 89 career points in three seasons at Wheaton and moves her into a tie for 11th-place on Wheaton's career points list, tying her with Brittany Bergh (2007-10)…tonight's win was the 440th victory for Thunder head coach Pete Felske who now has a career record of 440-102-32 in 27 seasons at the helm of the Wheaton women's soccer program.

SCHEDULE NOTE: Saturday's match at North Central has been moved to a 1:00 p.m. game time from its orginal start time of 5:00 p.m.