BOXSCORE

Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder men's soccer team used five first-half goals on Wednesday night en route to a 6-1 win at home against Aurora University. Wheaton improves to 4-2-1 with the win, while the Spartans fall to 4-1-1. Wheaton will host CCIW-foe Augustana on Friday night at 7 PM 

Aurora took a 1-0 lead when the Spartans' Tyler Klotz scored off of a Marshall Reed assist. Wheaton senior Cory Smith tied the match at 1-1 when he put the ball into the net off of a Matt Swartz corner kick. Freshman Stephen Mesko slipped the ball into the net for his first collegiate goal 19:30 into the match off of a double-assist from junior Ben Theimer and Ben Swartz. Senior Strider Elass (PICTURED) extended Wheaton's lead to 3-1, less than 10-seconds later, when he put the ball into the back of the net off of a Mesko assist. Sophomore Jason VanderVeen continued Wheaton's offensive outburst with his second goal of the year off of a double-assist from Elass and Brandon Bocianski. Elass' second goal of the match came off of an assist from Zac Koons. Wheaton put together five goals in less than 11 minutes to take a 5-1 lead that the hosts would hold at halftime.

Freshman Jordan Yates recorded his first collegiate goal 53:52 into the match. Yates headed the ball into the net off of an assist by Smith to give Wheaton a 6-1 lead that would become the final score.

Wheaton out-shot Aurora 14-12 and held a 7-1 edge in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper BJ Dons started the night in the net for the Thunder, allowing one goal, with three saves in 45 minutes of work. Junior Joe Selvaggio played in net for the second half with one save and no goals allowed. Aurora goalkeeper Matt Ness played the first 45 minutes in the Spartans' net, with one save and five goals allowed. Kevin Soderstrom allowed one goal, with no saves, playing the final 45 minutes of the match.