Wheaton, Ill. -- The second half of the Wheaton women's soccer team's season began with a Homecoming CCIW opener against the Illinois Wesleyan Titans this evening, and the Thunder overcame a halftime deficit to start their conference schedule in winning fashion. Just as they did two years ago against the same opponent on the celebratory weekend, Wheaton earned a 2-1 victory and moves to 1-0 in CCIW play.
Audrey Sexson and
Maddie Grinstead supplied the goals in the comeback effort in front of a sizable Bean Stadium crowd.
Wheaton did the majority of the attacking in Saturday's game, especially in the second half. The hosts finished with 24 shots, 16 of which came after halftime, while the Titans posted 14 efforts over the 90 minutes. The Thunder only managed to get four of their attempts on frame, but it was enough to get the job done, while their guests tallied six shots on target. Wheaton earned eight corner kicks to IWU's three this evening.
Sexson was responsible for most of Wheaton's offensive output against the Titans, registering a game-high eight shots and putting two of her attempts on goal, including her equalizing strike in the second half. Grinstead scored the winning goal with her lone attempt of the contest, while
Mia Blair also placed one shot on target for the home side.
Myah Schoolman made five saves in the Wheaton net to earn her first conference win playing between the sticks.
Both sides fashioned a pair of early corner kicks in the clash, while IWU posted the first two shots of the match. A relatively calm beginning to the game saw the first attempt on goal not arrive until the 13-minute mark when Schoolman made her first save of the evening. Wheaton's best chance of the first period came on 28 minutes when Blair found herself a few yards out from goal and had to take a first-time effort off of a cross into the box, but the Titan goalkeeper made an impressive reaction save to divert the ball away. Illinois Wesleyan found the breakthrough goal in the 33rd minute in chaotic fashion, as an attempted defensive clearance ricocheted off of a Titan attacker and fell kindly into the path of their striker, who quickly swept it home to give the visitors the lead. Wheaton started and ended the half brightly but could not find a way through the resolute Illinois Wesleyan back line and went into the locker room trailing 1-0.
The Thunder needed only three minutes after the intermission to draw level, as a throw-in bounced into the path of
Grace Crowder, who slipped a sharp pass across the box to
Audrey Sexson. The senior midfielder showed great awareness and patience to spin around the IWU defender marking her and calmly planted her strike into the net for her team-leading fourth goal of the campaign. (
pictured at right)
This equalizer lit a fire under the Thunder, who began to attack with more confidence and turned the momentum in their favor. Ten minutes later, the hosts completed the turnaround when the Illinois Wesleyan keeper chose to knock the ball away with her feet and the failed clearance fell to Grinstead at the top of the box. The freshman coolly brought the ball down, skipped around an out-rushing IWU defender, and steered her first collegiate goal into the back of the net from 18 yards out to put the hosts in front.
Wheaton then put the clamp on defensively and limited their Bloomington rivals to only one more effort on goal in the remainder of the match while continuing to show attacking intent themselves. The Thunder's lead never seemed in doubt, and the team earned the right to celebrate their first home win of the season in an important conference matchup.
Wheaton faces another tough conference matchup on Wednesday night, as the North Central Cardinals come to Joe Bean Stadium for a 7 PM kickoff. The local showdown is the last of three-straight home matches for the Thunder before they embark on a four-game road stretch.
