Wheaton, Ill. -- Less than 72 hours after returning home to take on the 25th-ranked Chicago Maroons, the Thunder women's soccer team welcomed DePauw University to Joe Bean Stadium for its final non-conference home match of the regular season. This afternoon's contest was a draining struggle played in warm conditions, but Wheaton returned to the win column the hard way, grinding out a 1-0 victory thanks to a solid defensive effort and a late winner by leading scorer Mia Blair. The Thunder's season record now stands at 3-5 heading into the last match before CCIW play begins next weekend.

Despite the match's low score, Wheaton created plenty of attacking opportunities on Saturday and posted decisive advantages in the shots and attempts on target categories. The hosts fired off 21 shots in the 90-minute contest and put ten efforts on goal compared to 11 and four, respectively, from their Indiana visitors. The Thunder forced over twice as many saves from the DePauw goalkeeper as Elizabeth Netz had to make in the Wheaton net, while both sides took six corner kicks and possession was perfectly split at 50-50% for the match. 19 fouls were called in a physical battle, and the hosts were shown the game's only yellow card in the first half.

Blair matched Emily Setran on a game-high two attempts on frame today, and her 84th-minute winner was her fourth goal of the season, already making 2024 her most prolific scoring campaign in her four years at Wheaton. Katherine Ashley and Grace Crowder picked up the assist for Wheaton's walk-off strike, with the latter also posting one shot on target in the win. Lily Lindquist, Kylie Houghton, Marissa Davis, Abi Edwards, and Noella Taylor each contributed an effort on goal, while Netz made four saves on Saturday to collect her second collegiate clean sheet.

DePauw began the match with attacking intent, taking three shots in the first six minutes and earning the game's first corner. But after this initial flurry, the Wheaton midfield and back line stifled the Tigers' production, and Netz's save around the 30-minute mark was DePauw's only shot on goal in the first half. The home side's first positive looks at goal came with 12 minutes left in the opening period, as Crowder drew a stop from the opposition keeper to win a corner kick and fired off another try shortly after this. The Thunder built up a flow of momentum in the closing minutes of the half, and the Tigers were happy to enter the intermission with the match still scoreless, as Houghton drew a wonder save with a strong effort from long range, before Setran and Davis were denied in quick succession inside the last four minutes.

Blair registered the first attempt on target of the second half, before Netz was called into action in the 53rd minute to keep the game knotted at 0-0. The second half followed a pattern of recurring periods of Wheaton pressure with occasional attacking chances for DePauw interspersed throughout. But on a hot day coming off of a short turnaround from two Wednesday fixtures, it appeared as though neither side possessed the clinical sharpness required to break the deadlock and the match would finish in a goalless stalemate. This was not the case, however, as the breakthrough finally arrived with six minutes remaining in the game.

Wheaton won a free kick at the midfield line, and Ashley stepped up to launch the ball into the Tigers' penalty area. Crowder rose well to win her header at the top of the box, and the ball fell right into the path of the unmarked Blair. The senior captain ran onto it and calmly fired a first-time shot past the diving keeper from ten yards out to nudge the hosts in front in the dying embers of the match (VIDEO).

The guests tried to find an immediate response and spoil the party with a late equalizer from one of two corner kicks they earned in the last two minutes, but the Thunder saw out the final stage professionally and held on for a deserved non-conference win.

After today's positive home result, the Wheaton women's squad will take to the road again on Wednesday afternoon to meet UW-Whitewater in Wisconsin. Kick-off between the Thunder and the Warhawks is scheduled for 5 PM.