DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras women's soccer team topped Wheaton on Tuesday afternoon, 2–0. Junior Megan Brant opened the scoring in the 51st minute, sending a clearing attempt back on goal before having it bounce over the keeper's outstretched arms. Minutes later, junior Maura Walsh ripped her first goal of the year in the 55th minute, delivering a screamer that tucked underneath the crossbar. The win was Duhawks' first over Wheaton since Sept. 14, 2010, a 3–1 decision inside the Rock Bowl.
 

• Wheaton opened with a pair of corner kicks in the matter of two minutes, but could not convert. 
• In the eighth minute, junior Gretchen Schutz created an offensive opportunity with a long throw on the near side of the field. The Lodi, Wis. native found the feet of sophomore Elizabeth Mills with her back turned to goal and proceeded to beat her defender one-on-one and deliver a hard shot on the ground, but her strike was right at the Wheaton goalkeeper, Kathryn McGregor. 
• The Thunder earned another corner kick in the ninth minute which Sarah Frey delivered to the back post, connecting with the head of Mary Petit, who headed it wide of goal.
• The toughness of Siebels was tested early when Wheaton's Autumn Rasmussen chased down a through ball into the box. Coming off her line, Siebels beat Rasmussen to the ball and ended the scoring threat. Siebels was slow to get up after the play but returned to her feet and play resumed. 
• In the 34th minute, senior Tori Ochs struck a first-touch ball, but had her shot blocked in front of goal.
• Both sides entered the halftime break level at 0–0.

• In the first five minutes of the second half, the Thunder earned a corner kick which led to a shot from Hannah Hodge that Siebels wrapped up safely. A minute later, Rasmussen beat a pair of Loras defenders and directed a shot on goal that Siebels was there to deny once again. 
• After a throw-in from Schutz was cleared, Brant volleyed the ball back in before having it return to her foot. Brant wasted no time in delivered a ball towards goal and benefited from a Rock Bowl bounce, as the ball went up and over the keepers outstretched arms and off the left post before going into the back of the net. The tally was Brant's first of her career.

 

Maura Walsh adds to the Duhawk lead with the long goal #GoDuhawks pic.twitter.com/DYUqyIWN6x

— Loras College Soccer (@LorasMWSoccer) September 6, 2016

• Moments later, Loras nearly increased their lead when Mills had the ball at the top of the box in the attacking third. The forward made a couple of nice moves to get past a multiple Thunder defenders and created enough space to play a ball across the six-yard line towards junior Maura Walsh, but Walsh was unable to connect with the pass and had it smothered by McGregor before she could deliver a shot.
• Less than three minutes later, in the 55th minute, senior Alexis O'Neill delivered a goal kick near the center circle and had it flicked on by Brant. The bouncing ball went over the head of the Wheaton defender and before she could possess, Walsh out-muscled her and struck the half-volley from 25 yards out, sneaking it under the crossbar to double the Loras lead.

 

Megan Brant with the goal to put the Duhawks up 1-0 early in the second half #GoDuhawks pic.twitter.com/M2RV4v4ohl

— Loras College Soccer (@LorasMWSoccer) September 6, 2016

• With Loras ahead by two, Wheaton's Anna Saunders beat two Loras defenders on the far side and sent a low shot on goal, but once again, Siebels was there to deny the scoring chance.
• In the late stages of the game, with Loras moving numbers back behind the ball, Saunders corner kick in the 86th minute bounced around and fell to the feet of Lauren Wilkes, who settled and ripped a shot that was blocked away.

 

Duhawks top Wheaton 2-0. Siebels posts second consecutive clean sheet. Brant & Walsh score for Loras. // #GoDuhawks pic.twitter.com/RnvyVLbl9h

— Loras College Soccer (@LorasMWSoccer) September 6, 2016