York, Pa. – The Thunder men's soccer team earned its seventh consecutive victory on Friday with a 2-1 win against Wartburg College (19-3-1) in a NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Sectional Semifinal, hosted by York College (Pa.). With today's win Wheaton advances to Saturday's Sectional Championship match against the host Spartans of York College (Pa).

York defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 1-0 in today's other Sectional Semifinal. The winner of tomorrow's Sectional Championship will advance to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Final Four next weekend in Orlando, Fla.

Wheaton earned a 1-0 advantage shortly before halftime when sophomore Joel DeLass scored his eighth goal of the season off of a loose ball in front of the net at the 41:18 mark of the match. At the 57:30 mark of the match, junior Strider Elass (RIGHT) scored his fifth goal of the postseason (two CCIW Tourney matches and three NCAA Tourney matches) when he collected a loose ball in front of the net and put it past Wartburg goalkeeper Matt Shepard. The Knights countered 75:14 into the match when Harrison Lugujjo scored to cut the Thunder lead to 2-1, but the Thunder defense held strong for the remainder of the match.

Wheaton out-shot the Knights 17-15 and Wartburg held a 9-2 edge in corner kicks. Wheaton goalkeeper Ryan Souders made four saves and allowed one goal in 90 minutes in net for the Thunder. Shepard made five saves and allowed two goals in the Wartburg net.