GAME STATS Box Score

Wheaton, Ill. - With rainy conditions and significant delays, the Wheaton College men's soccer team came through with a 2-1 victory over No. 15-ranked Loras College in the Bob Baptista Invitational on Saturday.

The win moves the Thunder to 2-0, clinching the opening-weekend Baptista title. The Duhawks fall to 1-1.

Weather was once again the story of the day. Lightning delays throughout the afternoon delayed games and ultimately pushed back the Wheaton-Loras start time back 90 minutes.

Both teams came out running at top speed from the game's onset. The Duhawks in particular displayed impressive quickness and utilized it with long balls through the air. The visitors possessed the ball and dished effectively throughout the first half and got several quality runs at the goal. Wheaton, meanwhile, looked to get its chances with counter attacks.

Loras finally broke through with only four minutes remaining in the opening half. A scrum in the box resulted in one save but the rebound was knocked in through a wall of bodies by Malcolm Calbert.

Coming out of halftime, Wheaton wrested back control and the momentum of the match within the first 10 minutes. At 49:33, Josh Clark and Cory Weaver combined to send a corner kick into the box, which was headed home emphatically by defender Dan Pavlak (PICTURED RIGHT) to tie the game at 1-1.

Rejuvenated by the goal, the Thunder continued to force the action offensively and get better runs on offense. But just when the Duhawks looked like they would take back the momentum, a foul was called in the box to set up a penalty kick for Wheaton forward Drew Golz (PICTURED ABOVE). The senior then struck the ball into the back of the net at the 73:18 mark to give the home side a 2-1 advantage.

That lead would hold up, as Loras picked up two red cards in the closing minutes to keep a comeback at bay.

"The difference is we're starting to grow up. If this was last year, we would have lost that game," Wheaton head coach Mike Giuliano said. "It felt like an NCAA Tournament game out there, it was so intense. Loras is a phenomenal team and they will make a run in the postseason."

Loras held the shot advantage 9-8 and the corner kick margin 7-3. Ryan Seager picked up the win in goal for the Thunder, while nate DuBois took the loss.

Wheaton is back in action next Friday at Ohio Wesleyan University.