Grand Rapids, Mich. -- In their second match against the thirteenth-ranked team in the country in the space of a week, the Wheaton women's soccer team faced another challenging nonconference test this evening. Traveling to Michigan to take on the Calvin Knights, the Thunder eventually fell 2-0 to the home side after a pair of first half goals allowed the undefeated hosts to maintain their perfect start to the season. Wheaton's record now sits at 1-4-1 as conference play begins to come into view.

The Knights could not have asked for a better start to tonight's contest, as the hosts opened the scoring less than a minute into the game via a throw-in situation that eventually fell to their attacker in the middle of the box to sweep home. Three more shots on target in the next ten minutes underscored the early gauntlet being thrown down by Calvin, but Wheaton began firing off attempts of their own with hopes of earning a quick riposte. Grace Hermanson registered the Thunder's first shot on frame just past the 15 minute mark, but a team save denied her the chance to level things up. Five minutes later, the Michiganians doubled their advantage from another penalty box scramble that eventually led to the ball being forced into the back of the net. Tori Seeland, Emily Setran, and Audrey Sexson all came up with shots on target either side of the Knights' second goal, but the successful finishing touch was not provided before halftime, and the nationally ranked hosts enjoyed a 2-0 cushion at the break.

Katherine Ashley earned Wheaton's only shot on target of the second half as Calvin refused to grant their guests a way back into the contest. The home side had four looks on goal themselves as they sought to make sure of the final result, but some sharp goalkeeping from Lauren Ketchum and a couple of bounces off of the Wheaton woodwork kept the scoreboard with the same reading at full time.

Wheaton won the possession battle over their hosts and posted respectable shooting figures of 13 attempts overall and five on target. But Calvin created chances at an industrial rate tonight, registering 23 efforts and 11 shots on goal. Ketchum made eight saves in the Wheaton net, while the Thunder forced five out of their hosts. Wheaton also edged Calvin in corner kicks, four to three. On a night when clinical finishing made the difference, Wheaton can have few disappointments with their overall performance on the road against a highly-rated unit.

Hermanson led the attacking output for the visitors tonight with three shots to her name and one look on target. Sexson and Ashley each provided two shots with one of their attempts on frame. Setran and Seeland accounted for the other two efforts on target for the Thunder this evening.

After three consecutive matches against Top 20 opposition, Wheaton will be glad to see an unranked opponent coming up next on the schedule. But WashU underneath the Friday night lights at Joe Bean Stadium will still represent a test for the Thunder. Kick off is scheduled for 6:30 pm in Wheaton in the team's penultimate nonconference fixture.