CHICAGO – In the opening conference contest of the season, the Wheaton College women's soccer team emerged victorious with a 2-0 road win at North Park University on Saturday afternoon.
The Thunder improved to 2-6-1 overall and 1-0 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). The Vikings fell to 3-6-1 on the year (0-1 CCIW).
Wheaton seized the advantage right away on the Holmgren Athletic Compex turf. Just over two minutes into the contest, sophomore Calah Strong sent a cross from the left wing into the box for an onrushing teammate. North Park's goalkeeper dove to intercept the pass attempt, but the ball ended up bouncing off her legs and rolling into the open net for an own goal.
The Vikings accounted for the next two scoring attempts in the seventh and tenth minutes. However, sophomore goalie Leah Roe was up to the task with a pair of saves. North Park would later hit the crossbar with a shot in the 37th minute.
Wheaton put one more shot on goal in the first half when Strong's attempt was saved 12 minutes in. At halftime, the hosts held a 9-6 lead in shots while corner kicks were even at two for each squad.
The two sides exchanged two shots on goal apiece early in the second half, with freshman Annika Vandervelde accounting for Wheaton's scoring chances in the 52nd and 53rd minutes.
Lily Lindquist provided the insurance tally with superlative goal in the 60th minute. Strong poked the ball to Lindquist in the middle of the attacking third, and the senior wheeled and fired a 28-yard strike that snuck just inside the right post. The Thunder defense then held the Vikings at bay the rest of the way to secure their second shutout of the season.
The final stats played out very closely – the shots category was tied at 16-16, with North Park holding a slim 6-5 shots on goal edge. Corner kicks went in Wheaton's favor by a 5-2 tally. The Vikings ended up with the possession time advantage, 55 percent to 45 percent.
Roe (1-1 record) collected a career-best six saves in the winning effort in goal.
The Thunder continue conference play with a road contest at Millikin University on Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m.
