MARION, Ind. -- No. 13-seed Indiana Wesleyan University controlled the tempo in a 2-0 victory over Houghton (N.Y.) College in the 2009 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round on Saturday afternoon in Marion, Indiana.

The Wildcats scored one goal each half to equal the total number of goals that the Highlanders allowed in 20 matches leading up to the national tournament.

Houghton (15-2-4) recorded the first serious scoring threat for either team midway through the opening period. The shot beat Indiana Wesleyan freshman goalkeeper Beth Anne Nowak high, but hit the crossbar and was quickly played away from danger.

Indiana Wesleyan was able to penetrate deep into Houghton territory on numerous occasions in the first half but Houghton kept IWU at bay and kept the match scoreless.

But late in the first half Indiana Wesleyan forced the ball into the 18-yard box and following many touches deep inside the box, IWU junior midfielder Brittany Horswell knocked the ball past Houghton sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Thayer for the 1-0 Indiana Wesleyan lead in the 39th minute.

The first half came to a close with each team registering six shots.

Indiana Wesleyan (18-2-1) would take control of the second half of action and put Houghton in their first two goal deficit of the year in the 58th minute of play.

With Indiana Wesleyan attacking the Houghton net a ball was played right in front of the Highlander goal. Thayer came out of the net to contest the pass and took out IWU junior forward Megan Marshall in the process. The official called a penalty in the box and awarded a penalty shot. Senior midfielder Catherine Turner took the kick and promptly put it in goal for a 2-0 advantage.

Houghton was unable to mount a threat against Indiana Wesleyan in the final 30 minutes of play as Nowak earned two saves in net for the Wildcats to collect the eighth consecutive team shutout. IWU has now gone 781 minutes without allowing a goal.

Indiana Wesleyan advances to the 2009 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship final site in Decatur, Alabama. The tournament will run from November 30 through December 5. Indiana Wesleyan will next play at 11 a.m. ET on Monday, November 30 and face the winner of No. 4-seed Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University and University of Maine-Fort Kent.