GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Marshall Hollingsworth scored the game winning goal in the 75th minute on Wednesday night.

Wheaton, Ill.- In an entertaining and wide open conference opener, it was the ability to execute the little things that earned Wheaton a 2-1 victory over Carthage on Wednesday night. With both sides playing a heavy possession game, the crowd at Joe Bean Stadium was treated to a back and forth match the featured a pair of terrific goalie performances. In the end, the eighth-ranked Thunder was able to execute in the run of play and piece together two goals to slide past the Carthage Red Men 2-1.

In an incredibly level first half of play, it was the Thunder that created the early scoring threats before finally cashing in to take the first lead of the game. Possessing forward out of the midfied, Elliot Borge sent a ball from the middle of the pitch to a streaking Marshall Hollingsworth up the right side of the box. In mid-air, Hollingsworth deftly one-timed the ball back to the middle of the box where Adam Blackman blasted it past Carthage's Nick Huftalin for the game's first goal. Huftalin would allow two goals and make six saves on the night.

Carthage slowly began to tip the field in their favor with strong possession play but Wheaton was able to collect defensively to stave off the Red Men attack. Carthage looked to have their break in the 30th minute when Michael Dombrowski found space and let loose and driving shot that was destined for the back of the net. However, Derek Babb rose to full extension to punch the ball wide of the net for a Carthage corner kick. Babb (PICTURED RIGHT) allowed one goal and made four saves in the game.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Carthage stuck with their game plan and finally was able to break through in the middle of the second half. Off a left-side throw-in, Mike Heika was able to reach the box on the fly and the Wheaton header was unable to clear the attack, but instead landed on the right foot of Billy Hamilton whose shot beat Babb to make it 1-1.

Wheaton's response came quickly and very similarly to how Saturday night's overtime winner was delivered. Playing off the left side, Josh Clark's centering pass sailed to the right side of the box and found the head of Blackman (PICTURED LEFT). Blackman's header provided a perfect feed for Hollingsworth, who drove the ball into the net to put Wheaton back ahead 2-1.

Several minutes later, the Thunder looked to put the game on ice when Jordan Golz' point-blank shot was stopped on an incredible save by Huftalin to keep it a one-score game. Carthage would continue to threaten in the final minutes, but Babb and the Thunder were up to the task and held on to improve to 7-3 on the season and 1-0 in the CCIW. Carthage fell to 8-4 and 0-1 in conference play.

Wheaton will now move on to Homecoming weekend when the Thunder welcome North Central to Joe Bean Stadium for a 7 PM kickoff on Friday evening.