Waukesha, Wis. -- The Wheaton women's soccer team made it two road victories in as many games at the start of their CCIW campaign on Saturday when they edged Carroll University by two goals to one. The match was played in rainy conditions in Waukesha, and the second half was suspended for a brief period to allow the inclement weather to pass.

It was a relatively quiet start to the match, with both teams only managing one shot in the opening 11 minutes of play. But the game soon changed when Carroll committed a foul in their own box, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded to Wheaton. For the second time this season, senior Sara Bakke took charge and slotted home from 12 yards out to give the Thunder an early lead. After the opening goal, Wheaton earned six corner kicks and forced three saves from the Carroll goalkeeper, but were unable to find the second goal that would have given them a more comfortable cushion. The hosts punished their profligacy by netting the equalizer in the 32nd minute when the Pioneers' Grace Tumilty assisted Maddie Belo for her sixth goal of the campaign. This goal proved to be one of only two shots on frame for Carroll in the opening 45 minutes thanks to a solid shift put in by Wheaton's back line. Despite Wheaton's control of the ball and creation of chances, the two teams entered the locker room knotted up at 1-1.

The Pioneers came out firing in the second half, having a shot blocked immediately after the restart and forcing a save from Wheaton goalkeeper Lauren Ketchum. But a few minutes later, the Thunder reclaimed the lead when Izzy McNally scored her first goal of the season in breathtaking fashion. The defender received the ball from teammate Mia Blair 40 yards from the goal, and, seeing no Pioneer defenders closing her down, decided to try her luck from distance. The end result was a shot worthy of winning any match. The ball flew over the top of the Carroll goalkeeper, who managed to get her fingertips on the ball, but could not keep it out of the net. The wonder strike visibly stunned the hosts, and it ultimately proved to be the catalyst Wheaton needed to see the match out with their one-goal lead intact.

Carroll managed three more shots on target after McNally's tie-breaking effort, but Ketchum was up to the task, and the Wheaton back line did just enough to ensure that the Thunder left with all three points and a 2-0 record in conference play. 

Full match statistics show an even split in terms of shots (12 for both teams), saves (5 for both), and shots on target (7 for Wheaton and 6 for Carroll). But the Thunder generated 12 corner kicks to Carroll's one, and Wheaton also boasted a significant possession advantage across the 90 minutes, 63-37%.

Next up for the women's soccer team is another CCIW road trip, this time to Chicago, where they will take on North Park on October 6th. After that, it will be the team's conference home opener against Illinois Wesleyan on Homecoming weekend.