ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Wheaton's Carney Blake gave her team the lead with a goal in the 39th minute Saturday and Jensen Ellis added an insurance tally in the second half, as the ninth-ranked Thunder defeated Augustana 2-0 at Thorson-Lucken Field. The Vikings dropped to 7-2-2 on the season and 2-2 in the CCIW, while the visitors improved to 12-1-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference.
 
Jensen and Wheaton's Izzy McNally put shots on frame in the first minute and a half of the contest, but Augustana keeper Sydney Ion (Aquinas HS, La Crosse, Wis.) turned both away.
 
The Vikings' best opportunity of the night came in the sixth minute, when Karissa Gottardo (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) gathered a pass ahead from Grace Sigler (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) and fired from 15 yards nearly straight on. A diving Lauren Ketcham got a piece of Gottardo's shot before it could reach the lower left corner and a Thunder defender cleared it from the mouth of the goal.
 
Ketcham also stopped Augustana's only other shot of the first half, by Sigler, in the 29th minute.
 
In minute 39, Blake parlayed an Isabelle Oliver assist into her first goal of the season and a 1-0 Wheaton lead, which the Thunder eventually took to the locker room at halftime. They finished the half with a 17-2 advantage in shots.
 
Wheaton's defense continued to stymie the Vikings in the second half, holding them without a shot for the first 38 minutes of the period. In minute 72, Ellis scored her fourth goal of the season to make it 2-0.
 
Augustana managed to squeeze off three shots in the final seven minutes, but two were off the mark and Ketcham stopped the third to maintain the shutout.
 
The Thunder finished with a 24-5 advantage in shots, including 9-3 in shots on goal. The Vikings took four of the five corners in the match and were called for five fouls to four for their guests. Augustana received the lone caution. Ion finished with seven saves and Ketcham with three.
 
Next up for Coach Scott Mejia's club is a home date versus Millikin on Saturday, October 19. Kickoff at Thorson-Lucken Field is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.