PICTURED ABOVE: Chelsea Gnan scored the game's only goal in the 73rd minute of Wheaton's 1-0 victory at Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday.

Bloomington, Ill. - A tremendous defensive match went the way of the visitors on Saturday afternoon. The Thunder women's soccer team, ranked 22nd in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, picked up a crucial CCIW win with a 1-0 victory at Illinois Wesleyan to improve to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the CCIW. The loss drops the Titans to 7-2-1 overall and 0-1 in the CCIW.

Despite a lopsided shot advantage (15-4 in favor of Wheaton) neither team's goalie saw too much action. Kelli McCarthy allowed just the one goal and made four saves for the Titans. Lauren Ketchum made two saves in a shutout effort for the Thunder.

The lone goal of Saturday's contest came in the middle of Wheaton's dominant second half effort that saw the Thunder outshoot the Titans 9-2 and McCarthy make three of her four saves. Chelsea Gnan was able to find the net for her third goal of the season with assists from Aeva Graber and Madison Peebles.

Ketchum and the Thunder defense handled the work the rest of the way, recording Wheaton's fourth shutout of the season.

Wheaton will put its three-match winning streak on the line again on Tuesday night, when the Thunder welcome the Hope College Flying Dutch to Joe Bean Stadium. Hope will enter the match ranked 13th in the latest Top 25 poll with an unbeaten record of 8-0-1. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.