A top ranked opponent was on the schedule for the Aurora University Spartan women's soccer team as they traveled to Wheaton College to take on the No. 4 ranked Thunder Wednesday night. A hat trick from junior Nicci Bermudes was all the Spartans would need as they shut out the Thunder 3-0.

Bermudes tallied the first of her three goals at 15:45 in the first half. She took a pass from senior Brittany Roydhouse and found the back of the net from just outside the box giving AU a 1-0 lead. For Roydhouse, the assist was the first of what would be three for her on the night.

Just over four minutes later, Bermudes and Roydhouse connected once again with the scoring chance coming just inside the box this time and as she had done eight times previously already in 2014, Bermudes beat the Thunder goalkeeper for the goal.

With a two goal advantage, the AU defense and sophomore goalkeepere Rachael Warnock faced an offensive on-slaught from the Thunder. But Warnock and the defense stood strong, taking the 2-0 lead into halftime.

As the second half began, AU looked to Bermudes one more time. As was the case the previous two times, Bermudes took a feed from Roydhouse before finding the back of the net and gave the Spartans a commanding three goal lead at 3-0.

Over the final 30 plus minutes, AU stood strong against the Wheaton attack and finished off the shutout win as the final horn sounded. On the night, AU was out shot 20-13 with Warnock pulling in nine saves and Wheaton had seven corner kicks to none for the Spartans.

With the win, AU's second all-time (2-9) and second consecutive, the Spartans are now 4-3 overall on the season. Next action for the Spartan women's soccer team comes on Sunday, September 21 when they host Alverno College in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. on Vago Field.