Kenosha, Wis. -- Heading out on the road for the third-consecutive match, the Wheaton women's soccer team traveled north to Wisconsin this afternoon to face off against the Carthage College Firebirds. Two first-half goals and an assured defensive display were enough for the Thunder to claim a 2-0 win and improve to 3-1-1 in CCIW competition. The Wheaton women are now unbeaten in their last four contests away from home.

Carthage registered the game's first shot on target five and a half minutes in, but the opening period was controlled by the Thunder, and the hosts did not attempt another effort at Wheaton's goal before halftime. An opening 27 minutes that did not see considerable attacking opportunities was interrupted when Mia Blair played a slicing diagonal pass across the top of the box into the path of Emily Setran. The sophomore midfielder collected the ball in stride and accurately placed her subsequent shot from 12 yards out into the bottom right corner to move the visitors in front.

The Thunder's lead was doubled eight minutes later, when Audrey Sexson extended her mark as the team's leading scorer in 2023 with her sixth goal of the campaign. Having already tried her luck from distance a couple of times in the opening exchanges, Sexson received a pass from Setran on the left wing, cut past a pair of Firebird defenders, and unleashed a powerful effort from 25 yards into the top right corner. The senior captain almost notched a brace shortly before halftime when she struck the crossbar, but her long-range belter was enough to give Wheaton a comfortable advantage heading into the second half.

The following 45 minutes was a cagey stretch with Sexson posting the only attempt on goal for either side after halftime, and the Thunder keeping their hosts at arm's length with a lockdown defensive performance. While they just edged the possession count at 53-47% in Saturday's matchup, Wheaton prevented Carthage from doing anything meaningful with the ball in the final third and ultimately secured a professional road win.

The Thunder limited the Firebirds to only two shots in the entire 90 minutes of play, and goalkeeper Myah Schoolman had little to do after the first save of the game, as she earned her first clean sheet since the opening match of the season against Trine. Wheaton attempted 11 total shots and put four of their efforts on goal. The visitors earned five corner kicks today and did not surrender any to Carthage.

Audrey Sexson accounted for three of Wheaton's four attempts on target this afternoon, and she is enjoying her best season in front of goal with six strikes so far this year. Emily Setran's goal and assist on Saturday was her second of the campaign in either category. Mia Blair's assist for Setran's score was her third of the year, a new team-high total.

Wheaton's extended run of away matches will conclude with a trip to Rock Island on Wednesday night. The Thunder are set to meet the Augustana Vikings, who have yet to lose in conference play this season, in a 7 PM kick-off.