Calvin Wetzel | Assistant Sports Editor
The Wheaton women’s soccer team played three games this past week, going 2-0-1. On Friday night, Oct. 5, they played the Trinity University (Texas) Tigers, ranked second nationally, to a 1-1 draw. The Concordia Cobbers visited Joe Bean Stadium on Monday night, Oct. 8, and the Thunder earned the victory 4-3. Wheaton also won their only CCIW match of the week on Wednesday night over the Cardinals of North Central by a score of 5-0.
As part of Wheaton’s homecoming weekend, the Thunder squared off against the second-ranked team in the country. Trinity came into the contest without a loss on the season and only one tie.
Neither of the two squads was able to get on the board in the first half, and the score was knotted at 0-0 entering the second half. Wheaton outshot the Tigers 16-7 in the opening frame and had a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal, but Trinity was able to keep Wheaton off the scoreboard thanks to keeper Katie Garrett. Garrett made six saves in the first half alone, many of which were diving stops.
The scoreless tie was broken 13 minutes into the second half when Trinity forward Stephanie Segovia scored to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Wheaton continued attacking the Tigers defense, however, and with 14 minutes remaining in regulation time, sophomore attacker Annie Hamilton put in the equalizer for the Thunder. Freshman forward Ally Witt recorded the assist on the play. The score remained 1-1 through the end of regulation, and after neither team was able to score in either overtime period, the contest ended in a 1-1 tie. It was Wheaton’s first tie of the season.
Wheaton led Trinity 38-17 in shots and 22-10 in shots on goal. Garrett registered 21 saves while allowing one goal. Thunder senior keeper Hilary Barreto also allowed one goal, making nine saves on the night.
On Monday night, the Thunder played host to the Cobbers of Concordia University (Minn.), earning a 4-3 victory in a thrilling double overtime game. Sophomore forward Anna Seabolt put the Thunder up in the 18th minute when she put a deflected ball in the net. Assisting the score was junior forward Leah DeMoss.
Sophomore forward Sarah Guidera extended the lead to 2-0 five minutes later when she converted a Seabolt assist for a score. In the 43rd minute of the match the Cobbers cut their deficit in half when Libby Fransdal found the back of the net, bringing the tally to 2-1 at the intermission.
Concordia’s Gina Weiss knotted the score at 2-2 with a goal 11 minutes into the second half. Six minutes later, DeMoss’s shot was saved by Concordia goalie Ali Nelson, but the ball bounced right back to DeMoss who put it in to regain the lead for her squad. Cobber Emma Ekdahl scored in the 90th minute to send the match to overtime, Wheaton’s second overtime contest in as many games.
After a scoreless first overtime in which Concordia was not able to get a single shot off, the visitors were whistled for a foul in the box with just 36 seconds on the clock in the second overtime, giving Wheaton a chance to win it with a penalty kick. DeMoss took advantage and found the upper corner of the net for the win.
The hosts outshot Concordia 33-13, including 10-0 in the overtime periods and 18-11 in shots on goal. Thunder sophomore keeper Kelsey Graham allowed three goals and made eight saves, while Nelson allowed four goals and tallied 14 saves for the Cobbers.
The Thunder resumed conference play on Wednesday night, Oct. 10, when they traveled to Naperville to face North Central.
The Thunder resumed conference play on Wednesday night when they traveled to Naperville to face North Central. Sophomore midfielder Alexa Sharkey scored in the 12th minute to give the Thunder a 1-0 advantage. That advantage was increased to 2-0 five minutes later when DeMoss scored her 15th goal of the year.
With six minutes remaining until halftime, Seabolt assisted freshman midfielder Mary Pettit on Pettit’s first NCAA goal to put Wheaton up 3-0 at halftime. Ten minutes into the second half Witt scored Wheaton’s fourth goal on an assist by freshman midfielder Sydney Sharkey. Witt found the back of the net again in the 68th minute to make the score 5-0, which would be the final.
The Thunder outshot the Cardinals 20-6 in the match, with a 12-3 edge in shots on goal. Cardinals goalie Jacqueline Clore allowed five goals and made seven saves while Barreto made three saves and pitched a shutout.
Wheaton’s record now stands at 12-2-1. They will take on Elmhurst tomorrow, Oct. 13, at 4:30 p.m. at Joe Bean Stadium. That game can be heard on WETN 88.1 FM or online at www.wetn.org.
Photo credit: Allison Freet
Printed in the October 12, 2012, issue of The Wheaton Record. Send comments to the.record@my.wheaton.edu.