GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Adam Blackman scored both goals in Wheaton's 2-1 win over Thomas More on Friday.
Wheaton, Ill.- The Wheaton men' s soccer team opened play in the 2013 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament on Friday with a 2-1 victory over the Thomas More College Saints. Despite a lopsided match statistically, the match was tied midway through the second half before
Adam Blackman's second goal of the match gave Wheaton the 2-1 advantage. With the victory, Wheaton will advance to face Kenyon College at 5 PM on Saturday afternoon at Joe Bean Stadium in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Wheaton (17-3-2) outshot the Saints 21-3 in the match with a 9-0 advantage in shots on goal. The Thunder managed a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. Wheaton goalkeeper
Derek Babb made two saves and allowed one goal in 90 minutes of work. Thomas More's Matt Kees allowed two goals and made seven saves.
The Thunder tilted the field of play in its favor in the opening ten minutes of the match by dominating the possession and the scoring changes, but Thomas More was able to weather the storm and hold the Thunder off the board. Finally, in the 25th minute, Wheaton was able to capitalize and take the lead. Taking a run into the attacking third on the left corner of the box,
Jordan Golz (PICTURED RIGHT WITH BLACKMAN) split a pair of Saints defenders with a ground pass that hit
Adam Blackman in stride and Blackman flicked the ball past the keeper to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead.
That lead would be shortlived, however, as the Saints were able to answer in the 32nd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick following a takedown in the box. Kyle Troutman successfully converted the penalty kick to tie the match at 1-1. That lead would stand until halftime.
Early in the second half, Wheaton looked to punch throw with the goal ahead goal and nearly were able to break through in the 60th minute. Off a setpiece from just outside the box,
Noah Anthony's free kick hit the right post and rebounded back to Blackman in front of the net. Blackman's follow-up attempt also rattled the woodwork off the right post and finally Wheaton's third attempt sailed just wide leaving the score tied at 1-1.
Ten minutes later, the Thunder found their go-ahead goal on a terrific individual effort from Blackman. Following a leading pass into the attacking third from
Josh Clark (PICTURED LEFT), Blackman navigated through traffic and then side-stepped the Thomas More keeper to bury the go-ahead goal at the 69:35 mark to give Wheaton the 2-1 edge.
Despite committing more men forward in the closing minutes, Thomas More could not find the equalizer and Wheaton held on for the 2-1 victory.
The automatic qualifiers out of the Presidents' Athletics Conference, Thomas More concludes its season with a record of 15-3-2.
Wheaton will host Kenyon College (15-4-3) on Saturday afternoon at 5 PM. Kenyon advanced with a 2-0 victory over Ohio Northern University on Saturday night. Kenyon is the automatic qualifier out of they North Coast Athletic Conference.
Note Worthy: This was the first ever meeting between Wheaton and Thomas More College...Wheaton is now 3-3 all-time against members of the Presidents' Athletics Conference...no members of the Wheaton men's soccer roster were born yet the last time Wheaton played a member of the PAC (Geneva College, 1985)...Wheaton is 2-3 all-time against Saturday's opponent, Kenyon College.
