Aurora, Ill. – The Thunder women's soccer team, ranked 23^rd in this week's NSCAA Division III Coaches Poll, shut out Aurora University 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon on Aurora's campus. Wheaton is now 6-2-0 on the season, while Aurora falls to 4-3-0 for the year.

The two teams battled through a scoreless first half this afternoon as Wheaton out-shot the Spartans 8-2 in the first 45 minutes.

Wheaton's attack continued in the opening of the second half and it paid off in the 54^th minute when freshman Chelsea Gnan scored on a shot from about five yards away from the goal. Gnan netted her second goal of the match in the 65^th minute when she capitalized on a through ball from Morgan Whitman to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead.

The final result of 3-0 was the result of Kristin Rauh's team-best seventh goal of the year. Rauh scored in the 74^th minute on an assist by Sarah Van Wingerden. Wheaton out-shot the hosts 13-5 in the second half.

Thunder netminder Abbey Fuster made three saves in 78 minutes of work in goal for the Thunder. Mary Daghfal played the final 12 minutes of the match, making one save to preserve Wheaton's third shutout of the season.

Aurora goalkeeper Caitlin DeRuiter made six saves and allowed three goals in 78 minutes of work in the Spartans' net. Taylor Joiner made two saves with no goals allowed in 12 minutes of action.

Wheaton tallied 21 shots in the match and Aurora had seven. The Thunder had six corner kicks in the contest and Aurora attempted three.

The Thunder will host seventh-ranked Washington University of St. Louis on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.