The University of Redlands women’s soccer team defeated last year’s national runner-up, No. 10 Wheaton College (IL), by a 2-0 final on Saturday afternoon in Redlands, extending its shutout streak to five.

Wheaton’s southern California trip was met with weather that typifies the arid desert conditions of an Inland Empire summer as temperatures climbed up into the high 90s. Both teams fought through the heat, but the Bulldogs stood strong to the end and pulled out a stunning upset that could help strengthen postseason at-large consideration should the conference’s automatic bid elude them.

The Bulldog back line neutralized the Thunder’s potent scoring threats, and the Redlands offense outchanced Wheaton as well. Although the shot margin wound up locked at 19, the Maroon and Gray converted on a third of its shots put on frame.

Sophomore forward Fionna Connolly (Salem, OR) accounted for the first goal of the game in the 19th minute when she nicked a ball off of a header. Junior defender Breann Puchalski (Redlands, CA) played in a perfect ball off of a corner-kick attempt, and Connolly hit just enough of it with her head to redirect the ball into the goal.

From that point forward, the Bulldogs’ momentum dictated the tempo of the match.

Junior defender Chelsea Hafley (Redlands, CA) put the game on ice in the 58th minute when she ripped a pass from junior forward Leslie Horner (Portland, OR) into the top right-hand portion of the net.

The Thunder tried desperately to switch up personnel, swapping its starting goalkeeper in favor of a defender that sported the keeper gear with 27 minutes remaining.

Senior goalkeeper Tenley Rawlings (Salt Lake City, UT) not only earned the shutout in between the posts, but she also recorded a career-high save total (11). For her efforts keeping the ball out of the Bulldog net, she raised her season save percentage from .800 to .839. Hillary Barreto made three stops in goal for the Thunder while Ann Turner turned away one shot in relief.

Wheaton (11-4, 3-1 CCIW) hopes to rebound on Monday when it visits La Verne for a 1 p.m. match against the University of La Verne. The Thunder currently holds a No. 10 ranking in the D3soccer.com national poll and also possesses a No. 13 spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings.

Redlands (9-4, 7-1 SCIAC) can stretch its lead in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings on Wednesday with a win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Claremont. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps sits just one point behind the Bulldogs in the conference race and defeated Redlands, 2-1, in double overtime when they last met on Sept. 26.