La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team, ranked 20th on the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll, improved to 5-1 on the season with a 4-3 win over Wheaton College (Ill.) Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Thunder drop to 1-3-1 on the season. 

UWL took a 1-0 lead at 7:43 with Alexis McMahon scoring her first goal of the season. The Eagles made it 2-0 at 38:10 on a goal from Kaitlyn Kurtz off a Lexy Szymanski assist. It was the first goal of the year for Kurtz. UWL led, 2-0, at halftime.  

UWL had 14 shots in the first half while Wheaton (Ill.) totaled six. 

Wheaton (Ill.) cut the deficit to 2-1 on Audrey Sexson's unassisted goal at 48:05. UWL quickly regained its two-goal lead at 52:05 as Maggie Hernandez scored off a Isabel Batley assist. It was her second goal of the year. 

The Thunder cut it to 3-2 on Sophie Lindquist's goal off a Mia Blair assist at 62:08, but the Eagles took a 4-2 advantage on Ainsley Allan's fourth goal of the year. Szymanski recorded her second assist of the game. Sexson scored her second goal of the game at 82:48 for Wheaton (Ill.) to cut it to 4-3. Tori Seeland recorded an assist. The Thunder had a chance to tie the game, but Sophia Anger recorded a save off Seeland's shot at 85:30. 

UWL finished with 25 shots in the game, including 14 on goal. Hernandez (all on goal) and Allan (three on goal) each had four shots in the game while McMahon (two on goal) and Ellie Arndt (one) finished with three. The Eagles totaled five corner kicks.  

Wheaton (Ill.) had 14 shots with five on goal. Sexson totaled four shots, including three on goal. The Thunder finished with two corner kicks. 

Anger had two saves for UWL while Lauren Ketchum recorded 10 for Wheaton (Ill.). 

UWL returns to action Tuesday, September 20 at The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) at 2:30 p.m.