PICTURED ABOVE: Madison Peebles gave Wheaton an early goal in a 2-0 victory over #20-Illinois Wesleyan on Monday night.
Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder women's soccer team finally found its signature victory on Monday night, and it came in a big way. Winless against Top-25 opponents this season, Wheaton ended that drought with a 2-0 victory over 20th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan. Originally scheduled for Saturday before thunderstorms postponed the match, Wheaton's victory places the Thunder atop the CCIW standings with a record of 4-0-1 in conference play and 7-4-3 overall. The Titans fall to 3-1 in the conference and 11-3 overall.
Monday night's action took place primarily in the middle third of the field with both teams playing a wide-open style. Wheaton finished with a 15-12 shot advantage and a 5-4 edge in corner kick opportunities. Kelli McCarthy made two saves and allowed two goals in net for Illinois Wesleyan.
Kathryn McGregor made three saves in a shutout effort for Wheaton.
Madison Peebles gave Wheaton an early lead when she got her head to a crossing pass from
Carney Blake. Peebles' header was saved by McCarthy on a diving effort but not before the ball rolled across the goal line, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage at the 12:01 mark. Peebles nearly doubled the Thunder lead in the 20th minute with a shot off a loose ball in the box but the Titans were able to clear the ball off the near post with a team save to keep the lead at 1-0. Rosie Pettenuzzo would threaten the Thunder with a shot late in the half but
Kathryn McGregor was up to the task with a save.
The first shot of the second half found the back of the net for the Thunder. Catching McCarthy away from her line,
Isabelle Oliver blasted a high, arching shot from 35 yards out that floated over McCarthy and nestled under the crossbar, pushing the lead to 2-0 in the 52nd minute.
Carney Blake nearly replicated the goal in the 78th minute with a shot from a similar position. Blake's shot beat McCarthy but rattled off the crossbar and back into play.
Wheaton will continue its busy week of action on Wednesday night when the Thunder travel to Rock Island to take on the Augustana Vikings at 5 pm.
