PICTURED ABOVE: Sarah Frey registered the game-winning goal in the 38th minute of Wednesday's match.

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder women's soccer team earned its fifth consecutive victory on Wednesday as the 'Orange and Blue' earned a 3-2 win at home against Carthage College (3-10, 0-3 CCIW). Wheaton, ranked 17th in this week's NSCAA Division III Coaches Poll, improves to 11-3 on the year and 3-0 in CCIW play with tonight's win.
 The Thunder offense put early pressure on Carthage in today's match and it paid off when the Lady Reds fouled Wheaton's Sarah Frey inside the penalty box to force a penalty kick for the hosts. Sarah Van Wingerden (PICTURED LEFT) recorded the goal on the PK to give Wheaton the early 1-0 lead just 4:24 into the match.

Wheaton was awarded a corner kick left of the Carthage goal at the 7:37 mark of the match and the kick from Sydney Sharkey was short and found Annie Wooldridge just left of the post and she put the ball towards the net as it glanced off the head of teammate Madison Peebles for the goal and 2-0 Thunder lead 7:51 into the match.

Carthage's offense began to take shape about 20 minutes into the match as the Lady Red began to generate a few opportunities. Carthage's leading goal scorer, Maggie Washelesky cut the Thunder lead to 2-1 when she put the ball into the back of the net on an assist from Rachel Post 34:59 into the match. Wheaton quickly countered Washelesky's goal with a shot on goal by Hannah Cockrum and a little bit more than a minute later Frey scored her third goal of the year. Wheaton quickly brought the ball downfield and at the left side of the goal area Morgan Whitman found a wide open Frey in front of the Carthage net as Frey's goal increased the Wheaton lead to 3-1 at the 37:46 mark of the match.

Wheaton maintained its 3-1 lead at halftime. The Thunder out-shot the Lady Reds 10-5 in the first half as Wheaton held a 7-2 edge in shots on goal in the half.

Carthage's offense was more aggressive to start the second half as continued pressure by the Lady Reds resulted in four shot attempts in the first 15 minutes of the half. Carthage's Corinne Brennan collected a loose ball and headed it into the net at the 74:13 mark of the match to cut Wheaton's lead to 3-2 with just 15 minutes remaining in the match. Wheaton maintained possession for the majority of the closing minutes of the match as the hosts out-shot the Lady Reds 6-2 in the final 15 minutes and held off Carthage for the 3-2 win.

Wheaton goalkeeper Abbey Fuster made three saves and allowed two goals for Wheaton in the win. Carthage netminder Abby Alm made 10 saves and allowed three goals in 90 minutes of work in the Lady Reds' net.
Wheaton attempted 20 shots in the match, including 13 on goal. Carthage was credited with 12 shots in the contest, including six on goal. Wheaton was awarded 11 corner kicks in the match and Carthage had just one.
The Thunder will remain in conference play on Saturday when Wheaton hosts eighth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m. in a key CCIW battle of nationally-ranked teams.